§ 1
The physician’s high and only mission is to restore the sick to health, to cure, as it is termed.1
1 His mission is not, however, to construct so-called systems, by interweaving empty speculations and hypotheses concerning the internal essential nature of the vital processes and the mode in which diseases originate in the interior of the organism, (whereon so many physicians have hitherto ambitiously wasted their talents and their time); nor is it to attempt to give countless explanations regarding the phenomena in diseases and their proximate cause (which must ever remain concealed), wrapped in unintelligible words and an inflated abstract mode of expression, which should sound very learned in order to astonish the ignorant – whilst sick humanity sighs in vain for aid. Of such learned reveries (to which the name of theoretic medicine is given, and for which special professorships are instituted) we have had quite enough, and it is now high time that all who call themselves physicians should at length cease to deceive suffering mankind with mere talk, and begin now, instead, for once to act, that is, really to help and to cure.
JT Kent’s Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica:
Manganum – page 723
As far as we have gone we see that everything brings out that very idea and the nature of things that Hahnemann talks about in his first paragraph, that the sole duty of the physician is to pay his attention to the sick, to the patient himself; and who is this patient himself? This is what we have been talking about, this is what we have been trying to bring out here; and all the particulars that I shall take up corroborate these very things. These particulars are so linked with these generals talked about that they make a grand unity of thought, and we cannot separate them.
Outline by Julian Winston (2001): The physician’s only mission is to cure the sick; it is not to speculate on the nature of disease.
Dr. L. M. Khan (2004): (In one of his lectures Dr. LM Khan highlighted that to understand the meaning of cure as per Hahnemann himself, we need to look into his Materia Medica Pura where Hahnemann says this is “recovery undisturbed by after-sufferings”. I marked this in my Organon book and now quoting it here from Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura — Dr. Anil Singhal). Under China, while Hahnemann emphasised the power of china, Hahnemann wrote “one single very small dose will often effect a marvellous cure. I say cure, and by this I mean a ‘recovery undisturbed by after-sufferings’ or have practitioners of the ordinary stamp another, to me unknown, idea of what constitutes a cure?
This aphorism at a glance in different editions of Organon of Medicine:
| Year | Edition | Aphorism |
| 1921 | 6th edition | 1 |
| 1833 | 5th edition | 1 |
| 1829 | 4th edition | 1 |
| 1824 | 3rd edition | 1 |
| 1819 | 2nd edition | 1 |
| 1810 | 1st edition | 1 |
Very sensible advise to Medical practitioners by the great Master but irony is that type of practice of pretensions is still prevalent inspite of great success rate of homoeopathic treatment.
True Dr Chopra. Hahnemann emphasized this mission for the betterment of suffering humankind, but today the aspect is more commercial and pharmaceutical oriented with personal interests. I am sure, with the awareness, this maxim would prove itself again.
Thanks visiting ‘Organon of Medicine website’.
Warm regards.
This aphorism may true for his time only: however, it should read as follows:….
☼1.1 Since absolute cure is not possible at all to achieve so far, the only and utmost mission remains to revive sickened individual entity judiciously; which should be intent of every rational physician. Insofar as I experienced and know the term ‘cure’ [1] is concerned.
DR. S.HARIMANN
INDIA
Dear Dr. Harimann
Thanks a lot for your enlightening long reply, but I had to cut the footnote [1] because of space issue.
I think, I need to see how can we incorporate excerpts (only small excerpt in 2-3 sentences) from your published work with your kind permission for the benefit of students of homeopathy.
Warm regards.
The Aphorism 1 first find mentioned in Organon der Rationelien Heilkunden (Organon of Rational Art of Healing) in 1819.
Thank You for such a lovely website, a gem.
Thanks Dr. Nancy for your kind words.
We had a plan to incorporate how one aphorism reflected in different editions as available in the appendix of our Organon of Medicine. But, your reply here incited me to add this information at the earliest under “This aphorism at a glance in different editions of Organon of Medicine” as above.
Once again thanks for your visit, and I hope to get more suggestions from your side…
Warm regards.
Thank You Dr. Anil for your words of encouragement. It’s great to include “Aphorisms at glance in different editions of Organon”. Kind Regards
Thanks Dr. Nancy for liking it, it is still in process…
Thanks Dr Singhal, Dr Harimann and Dr Nancy for this conversation and thanks to the developer of this site and work.
Regards
Dr Sardar Singh Meena
Simple and clear explanation.
The mission of physician
thank you dr for this website
Sir,I have a que that what is difference between aim,mission and object?
Aphorism support us only clearance for choose the remedy.
Brain mapping corner having safe. Against of other pathy
sir plz give some info about thoretic medicine
Really appreciate this great initiative & fruitful discussions.
It will be useful from the academic standpoint to compare other translations as well. For eg; While Dudgeon translated ‘beruf’ (German word used by Hahnemann) as mission, Wesselhoeft translated it as calling, Wheeler as aim & Haehl as object