Organon of Medicine - Prefaces of All 6 Editions

Preface to the 1st Edition

• Samuel Hahnemann stated that medicine practiced earlier was mostly based on speculation and assumption rather than certainty and truth.
• A physician must search for truth through careful observation and experience.
• True medical knowledge comes only from practical experience and observation, not from accepted theories.
• Physicians should act honestly towards humanity and should not blindly follow old practice.
• Only an unprejudiced observer can understand disease and cure correctly.

Preface to the 2nd Edition

• Hahnemann further explains that the healing art must depend entirely on practical experience and natural laws.
• He argues that old medicines were based on theories and assumptions that were not truly useful for curing disease.
• True medicines are pure science based on observation and experience.
• Emphasized the importance of drug proving.
• Medicine should be based on the "Law of Similars".

Preface to the 3rd Edition

• Found acceptance from physicians far and near.
• Future generations of mankind will do justice to the gift of this gracious work.
• Provided alleviation of bodily and mental sufferings.
• Spread to foreign lands (via Baron von Brunnow).
• Hahnemann was not restrained from making any alterations and emendations.

Preface to the 4th Edition

• Nature's self-healing power is limited.
• Highlighted the disadvantage of Allopathic medicine.
• Homoeopathy is the true Healing Art.
• Before Homoeopathy, the true Healing Art was not discovered.

Preface to the 5th Edition (Published 1833)

• Translated by Dr. Dudgeon.
• Contains 294 Aphorisms.
• Theory of Vital Force introduced.
• Theory of drug dynamisation introduced.
• No footnote on dynamic influence in §11.
• Certain aphorisms were omitted from the previous edition.

Preface to the 6th Edition (Completed 1842, Published 1921)

• Completed by Hahnemann but published 78 years after his death.
• Edited and published by Dr. William Boericke.
• Contains 291 Aphorisms.
• "Vital Force" replaced by "Vital Principle".
• 50 Millisimal (LM) Scale introduced.
• Long footnote added to §11.
• Paragraphs 52-56 wholly rewritten; long footnotes added to paragraphs 60-74.
• Paragraph 148 is practically wholly new - concerns the origin of disease.
• Paragraphs 246-248 address dose in treatment of chronic diseases.
• Paragraphs 269-272 devoted to technical directions for preparation of homoeopathic medicines.
• Added footnote to para 282 (of greatest importance).
• Double remedies other than chemical compounds fully settled in para 273.
• Certain aphorisms completely rewritten: 24, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 271, 272, 273, 277, 280.

Preface to 5th & 6th Edition (Combined Points)

1. Old school (Allopathy) treats imaginary "disease matter" with emetics, purgatives, plasters, setons.
2. Large doses of powerful medicines lead to weakening.
3. Continuation of medicines suppresses and hides the disease (palliative effect).
4. In chronic cases, continual weakening adds new destructive drug disease.
5. Contraria contrariis = a non-healing art.
6. In Homoeopathy, disease is not caused by substances or acidity but by spirit-like derangement of vital force.
7. Cure occurs only by reaction of vital force against the rightly chosen remedy based on Similia Similibus.
8. Cure will be rapid, certain, in simple form but in rare and minute doses.
9. Disease is weakened and removed without suffering or injury - nature's disease is weakened and cured.
10. This is the true Healing Act.
11. Some physicians use allopathic methods out of ignorance and laziness - leads to failure of curing serious cases.
12. Homoeopathy is a perfectly simple system of medicine, fixed in its principles for practice.