INDEX

Definition
Discussion
First prescription acts
Types of Second Prescription
1. Repetition of the first prescription.
Change in Potency
2. Antidote to the first prescription
3. Change of remedy
4. Complementary medicine
5. Coagnate
6. Change of plan of treatment
 SECOND PRESCRIPTION
Definition
Dr. Kent defines second prescription is the prescription after one that has acted. the second
prescription presupposed that
I. The first has been a correct one.
II. It has acted
III. It has been left alone to act full time.

Discussion
After the administration of the similimum, the physician expect some reaction or some response.
After the patient shows the desired reaction, there may and probably come a time when the
physician is called upon to meet a symptom picture once more.
This is the time when the physician must consider the second prescription after
restudying the case carefully.

First prescription acts

Strictly speaking, first prescription is the prescription that acts i.e. has affect certain changes
either good or bad. A physician may make a mistake and not select a remedy that is similar,
consequently no reaction. Thus we may be looking for a second prescription.

We are in reality looking for a first prescription to which the patient will react.
In other words the prescription must be considered as the similimum.
Unless the patient reacts to the administration to the study and it has produce an effect,
it is not true prescription.

Types of Second Prescription

1. Repetition of the first prescription.
2. Antidote to the first prescription.
3. Change of remedy
4. Complementary medicine
5. Coagnate
6. Change plan of treatment

1. Repetetion of the first prescription.

1. If the patient has not had these present symptoms for sometime, if there has been a relief
caused by the first prescription and then the original symptoms return after an interval of
variable period having the same generals and particulars as formally, it means that
a) The first prescription was a good one.
b) The case is curable.
 c) The second prescription must be a repetition of the former.

2. After some improvement the action of the medicine stops, the case come to a standstill
position, even after waiting for a considerable period.
3. Then it is the duty of the physician to wait a long time. But if after waiting no outward
symptoms have appeared, a repetition of the previous first prescription may help to
complete the cure.
A new one cannot be entertained because there is no guide to it. But another dose
of the same medicine can cause the patient to be jogged along the way of feeling better.
But there should be no haste about it.

Change in Potency
Kentian concept : Dr. Kent is of the opinion that the same potency be not repeated on
more than two occassion .
Hahnemann concept : Hahnemann in his later years was experimenting with the idea of
changing slightly the potency of next dose, the same potency not being repeated again
and has recorded favourable effect.

2. Antidote to the first prescription

1. The appearance of a lot of new symptom after the first prescription means that they must
be antidoted, if it is possible. The old symptoms do not return but new symptoms come
in their place. The patient says well doctor you have cured one of these symptoms I had
but now, I have these .
2. In this condition the new symptoms should be explained carefully whether they belong
to the pathogenesis of the medicine. It is possible that these symptoms are the symptoms
of the drug that he has administered and then it looks like proving.
3. If so, the remedy has not acted properly it was not homeopathic to the case and was an
unfortunate prescription because it has caused the disease to progress in another
direction developing another group of symptoms. Here if it is possible we must antidote
the medicine.
4. The new symptoms combining with the old one must be again studied and the second
remedy must respond more particularly to the new than to the old.

3. Change of remedy
1. When the symptoms change without any improvement of the patient, change of remedy
is indicated.
2. If the symptoms change with consequent improvement in the patients state the remedy
should never be changed.
3. Ensure that new symptoms appearing are not the old symptoms to which the patient has
become accustomed due to.
 4. Long time suffering or apparently trival nature.
5. Change of remedy is also indicated when the remedy previously indicated has done all
the good it can for the patient and has been tried in the whole range of potencies.

4. Complementary medicine
It is also change of remedy but the medicine now selected complements the ction of first
remedy.
It is usually the case when first remedy is an acute one and it is to be complemented with
the constitutional medicine.
e.g. 1. Byonia is complemented with the naturum mur.
2. Belladonna with calc carb etc.
Sometimes second prescription is necessary to complement the former and this is always
a change of remedy. It is usually the case when the first remedy is an acute one and is to
be complemented with the constitutional medicine for the completion of the cure.

5. Coagnate
The medicine which are closely related to each other are known as coagnate. These medicines
are so closely related to each other that a medicine always leads to one of its cognates.
E.g. Suppose, Sulphur is the first prescription, then coagnate may follow is calcarea carb and
which again may be followed by lycopodium.

6. Change of plan of treatment

When a patient is treated for a particular miasm with anti-miasamatic remedies often it is found
that sign symptoms of other miasm start appearing with disappearance of symptom picture of
previous miasm.
e.g. When a patient is treated with anti-psoric medicines, psoric symptoms are subdued and the
old sulphilitic or sycotic condition come up. These miasmatic states alternate with each other,
one miasm being dominant at one time. In such a situation action plan of treatment is to be
changed and a new remedy belonging to different miasmatic group is indicated.