Author: William A. Allen
The Repertory of the Symptoms of Intermittent Fever was published in 1882 by William A. Allen in Flushing, New York. The work covers 133 homeopathic medicines and reflects Dr. Allen’s extensive clinical experience in treating intermittent fevers. His observations are highly respected in the field, with Dr. T.F. Allen describing the repertory as “exceedingly valuable.”
Allen emphasizes that intermittent fever can be successfully treated without exception, provided the remedy is selected according to the Law of Similia and tailored to the totality of symptoms.
Sources
In addition to his personal clinical experience, Allen drew information from:
- The Therapeutics of Fever by H.C. Allen
- Lippe’s Repertory
- Boenninghausen’s Therapeutic Pocket Book
- Gross on Comparative Materia Medica
Allen recommends remedies ranging from tincture to high potencies, noting that 200C potency is often best suited to cases. He advocates administering remedies after the paroxysm of fever and encourages frequent repetition when necessary.
Structure and Plan of the Repertory
The repertory is organized according to the stages of intermittent fever, though these are not explicitly separated. The main sections include:
- Chill
- Heat
- Sweat
- Apyrexia
Chill
The chill section contains detailed headings to capture the complete spectrum of symptoms:
- Chill, wanting
- Chill (general)
- Remedies with special indications for seasons and weather
- Chill, caused by
- Chill, preceded by
- Chill, time
- Chill commences
- Chill location of
- Chill character of
- Chill symptoms during
- Chill ameliorated
- Chill aggravated
- Chill followed by
Heat
Similarly, the heat section is categorized into:
- Heat, wanting
- Heat (general)
- Heat, preceded by
- Heat: character, time, and location
- Heat symptoms during
- Heat ameliorated
- Heat aggravated
- Heat followed by
Sweat
The sweat section includes:
- Sweat, wanting
- Sweat (general)
- Sweat, preceded by
- Sweat: character and time
- Sweat: location of
- Sweat symptoms during
- Sweat ameliorated
- Sweat aggravated
- Sweat followed by
Apyrexia
This section lists symptoms alphabetically, making it easy to locate concomitants and general symptoms associated with the fever.
Grading
Allen uses a three-grade system to indicate the frequency and prominence of remedies:
- Bold – 3 marks (highly significant)
- Italics – 2 marks (moderately significant)
- Roman – 1 mark (less significant)
Case Working Method
To use the repertory in clinical practice, follow these steps:
- Arrange the symptoms related to chill.
- Arrange the symptoms related to heat.
- Arrange the symptoms related to sweat.
- Arrange the symptoms occurring during apyrexia.
Identify remedies that appear frequently or have higher marks. Compare closely related medicines and select the prescription that best matches the totality of the case.
Conclusion
William A. Allen’s Repertory of the Symptoms of Intermittent Fever is a pioneering work that provides a systematic approach to the homeopathic treatment of intermittent fevers. Its detailed categorization by fever stages, clear grading of remedies, and practical guidance for case analysis make it an invaluable resource for practitioners.