20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, January 1986

The bowel nosodes

In this paper by C Oliver Kennedy there is a brief historical review of the establishment of the bowel nosodes in the 1920s, in particular the role of J Paterson, who was able to show for the first time the effects of a homeopathic potency in the laboratory with confirmation of its effectiveness. A definite relationship was demonstrated between homeopathic remedies, non-lactose fermenting organisms and clinical syndrome. The author gives a list of the six nosode groups, with the clinical characteristics and systems involved as detailed by Paterson. This is followed by six rules for clinical use of bowel nosodes without bacteriological confirmation.

The author then dealt with the situation at the time—50 years on. On one hand, problems of technique had arisen; but on the other, a definite trend in modern medicine was confirming Paterson's view. Mims now recommended ‘the use of specific drugs with an action on disease processes rather than the relief of the inflammation’; the value of vaccine therapy was being increasingly appreciated; and the importance of heredity increasingly recognized. Kennedy stated ‘It is now accepted that polyarthritis forms a miscellaneous group of complex diseases, but they readily fit Dr Paterson's (and Hahnemann's) nosode groups of Syc. Co. and ‘Syphilis’ (Figure 1)’. Indeed, Figure 1 entitled ‘A scheme to show the multisystem involvement in ‘arthritis’ and a suggested association with Paterson Nosode Groups’ does show how very complex it all is.

In conclusion, the author saw the bowel nosodes as providing a firm bacteriological basis for the advancement of philosophical conception of chronic disease; but insisted that, to achieve this success, collaboration between homeopathic physicians and biopathologists would be essential to confirm and extend Paterson's work.[ ¹ ]

• References

• 1 Kennedy C.O. The bowel nosodes Paterson and chronic disease—50 years on. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 1-5.
• 2 Rost J. Homeopathy—isopathy. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 6-9.
• 3 Day C. Clinical trials in bovine mastitis. Use of nosodes for prevention . Br Hom J 1986; 75: 11-14.
• 4 Wolff H.G. Mineral in animal and man. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 15-17.
• 5 Chand D.H. Verucae (warts) Miasm and/or viral infection. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 18-26.
• 6 Jack R.A.F. Anorexia, allergy or arsenic?. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 28-36.
• 7 Vakil P. Recent developments concerning homeopathic materia medica Bhopal—was it methyl isocyanate. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 46-51.