The word ‘Organon’ is a Greek derivation of the word ‘Organum’ which has the following meaning:
1. Literary work
2. A method of scientific investigation
3. Instrument of thought, system of logic
Definition
Organon of Medicine is a book written by Master Samuel Hahnemann containing the principles of Homoeopathy.
Aim and object
The aim and object of Hahnemann for writing Organon of Medicine was to formulate doctrines, laws and practical instructions to the medical profession so that they can practice Homoeopathy in a logical and elaborate way.
Editions of Organon of Medicine
During his lifetime Hahnemann published five editions of Organon. The fifth one is the most popular. The sixth edition was published long after his death (1921).
First Edition: 1810
Title: Organon der Rationellen Heikunde i.e., Organon of the Rational Medical Science
Publication: in 1810, in Torgau. It was published by Arnold and financed by a grateful patient.
Contents: – 271 aphorisms
-Title page contained a stanza of a poem from Gellert, the famous German poet.
Translation: C. E. Wheeler translated this edition into English in the year 1913.
Second Edition: 1819
Title: ‘Organon der heilkunst’ which means ‘Organon of the Healing Art’.
Publication: it was published as an “Augmented Edition” from Leipsic.
Contents: -it contained 318 paragraphs. But the numeration was wrong hence the actual number of sections is 315.
-the stanza of Gellert’s poem was replaced by two words, “Aude Sapere”, which remained in all succeeding editions.
Translation: it was the first ever translated edition of Organon from German to French and was translated by Earnest George Von Brunnow in 1824.
Third Edition: 1824
Title: the name and title page remained unchanged.
Publication: it was published as an “Improved Edition”, in Koethen.
Contents: – 320 paragraphs but the wrong numeration was rectified, hence actual number 317 sections.
Fourth Edition: 1829
Title: the name and the title page remained the same as before.
Publication: it was published as an “Augmented and Improved edition, in 1829 from Koethen.
Contents: -many paragraphs are changed and omitted
-contained 292 sections
-Theory of Chronic Disease and the “introduction” to Organon was introduced for the first time in this edition.
Translation: by Charles H. Devrient, in English in 1833, being the first ever English translation of Organon.
Fifth Edition: 1833
Title: same as before
Publication: this was the last edition which was published during the lifetime of Hahnemann in the year 1833 from Koethen.
Contents: -contained 294 sections
-the Doctrines of Vital Force and Drug Dynamization were introduced for the first time in this edition
-this edition is the most perfect of all editions and recognised as the textbook in Homoeopathic institutions all over the world.
Translation: -in English by Robert Ellias Dudgeon, in 1849, again in 1893
-also translated in English by C. Wesselhoeft
Sixth Edition:1921
Title: same as before
Publication: it was completed in 1842, in Paris. But unfortunately, it wasn’t published by him as he breathed his last on 2nd July 1843. It was first published in German language by Richard Haehl in 1921, 78 years after the death of Hahnemann. The English translation was done by William Boericke.
Contents: -contained 291 sections
-Theory of repetition of doses, concept of dynamic influence and 50 millesimal potencies introduced in this edition.
AUDE SAPERE
Aude is a Latin word ‘Audhere’ which means ‘to dare’, ‘Sapere’ means ‘to be wise’. So ‘Aude Sapere’ means ‘dare to be wise’.
When the first edition of Organon of Medicine was published, storm of criticism started in Germany and Europe. Hahnemann was attacked in the medical journals of the day. Books and pamphlets were circulated against him and his strange doctrines. He was called a cheat, a quack. A monthly journal ‘Anti-organon’ was published in July 1810. Dr. Simon started another journal ‘Anti Homoeopathic Archiv’. Many of his disciples were prosecuted by the court for dispensing their own medicines.
In spite of this great opposition, he did not surrender. He wanted to show them that he was not afraid of it. Hahnemann wanted us, the physicians, to be bold, to be courageous. Since each person who is a lover of truth, each one of them willing to know more, to be wise must face all types of hardship. Such has been the lesson of history. Socrates, Galileo, Paracelsus are only a few names from many whose lives would teach us the same.
Hahnemann knew the dangers of being a wise man. He knew the risk of introducing new ideas which was against the age-old beliefs. But he was not afraid of those dangers and risks. He had the courage and wanted his followers to have the same. That is why he replaced the stanza of Gellert’s poem and put these two words.
Contributor – Dr. Manju Valesha
