SALZBURG IMPRESSIONS

THE theme of the Salzburg Congress was "HomSopathie und Wissenschaft", the title of the book written by the brothers Prokop of Eastern Germany, in which they at tempted to prove that Homceopathy was unscientific. The response to this challenge was both brisk and multifarious.

Dr. Bloss, of Western Germany, in a philosophical paper, mobilized Sir Francis Bacon, Bochenski, Aristotle, Bergson, and Heidegger, discussed the theories of knowledge, of direct and indirect knowledge, and compared the two avenues of research, empirical and phenomenological and demonstrated that while modern science relied on only one avenue, Homoeopathy depended on both.

Dr. Julian, of France, put forward the materialistic point of view as against the vitalist attitudes, and his ably argued paper aroused some sharp criticism to which he replied with great sincerity and dignity.

From Eastern Germany, Dr. Storch reported how much disturbance the Prokop's book had caused, and described the political complications that had followed its publication.

A determined at tempt to explain the physical aspects of the problem of potencies also came from Eastern Germany in the learned paper by Dr. Rich- wein, who was not permitted to leave his country to read his paper. This was a theoretical study of adsorption phenomena, involving some higher mathe- matical formulae. The interpreters found themselves in difficulties, but as far as it was possible to follow the translation, it was clear that much more attention must be paid in studying potencies, to adsorption isotherms, capillary action, surface tension. In succussion great surfaces are collected in the air bubbles concentrating the potentized substance at the top.

The resulting potency will depend greatly on the technique of transfer to the next bottle.

Similar considerations apply to trituration with the creation of electrical phenomena at the crystal surfaces of lactose, and double electrical layers. Very few of us have sufficient knowledge of modern physics to follow this paper in detail, but it was obviously of fundamental importance.

Dr. Hamish Boyd's paper on the differences between simple dilutions and succnssed potencies as recorded on the emanometer, with an illustration of the effects of ultrasonic vibration on dilutions was a valuable complement to this theoretical paper. There are two major problems outstanding in homceopathie theory. The basic one is what happens to the substance when it is potentized: what is the source and nature of the energy released? And these papers by Rich- wein and Boyd explored this problem. The other major problem is what happens in the organism which reacts to the potency? And here again a theoretical answer was promulgated by Dr. Bayr of Austria, applying the methods of cybernetics. In a series of theoretical models, employing feed-back circuits, Dr. Bayr demonstrated how reversal of effect was theoretically possible, how the strength of the stimulus was not significant and could be minimal, and so paradoxical reactions were not only possible but likely. This also was a paper of fundamental importance. He suggested that these feed-back circuits were a function of the nervous system. Dr. Devrient of Western Germany developed the theme of the importance of the nervous system as the site of potency action and referred to Speransky's researches in the U.S.S.R., a topic already discussed some years ago in our Society.

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154 T H E B R I T I S H H O M ( E O P A T H I C J O U R N A L

To the pragmatic members of the Congress, anxious to improve their practice, these theoretical papers were perhaps a little tedious, but the programme also included papers on treatment.

I t is difficult to pick out individual papers, but perhaps mention should be made of the paper in French on Calendula, by Dr. Tetan, which elicited a valuable contribution from Dr. Schmidt of Geneva, and the other French paper by Dr. Daynez on Natrum tour., with some interesting observations on the glucose/sodium chloride ratios in the blood in diabetes.

On the actual arrangements of the Congress, the Secretary, Dr. Seitschek, is to be congratulated. We met in a magnificent newly-built Congress Hall, supplied with transistor walkie-talkie sets for simultaneous translation. But members attending such congresses need to move with the times and not every contributor realized the absolute necessity of providing copies of his paper over- night in order that the interpreters could study it; or the necessity under these conditions to keep exactly to his text. Many participants were too ambitious and one colleague brought to the desk a paper of 34 pages to be read in the time limit of a quarter of an houri

The Secretary did not spare himself and expected us to work as hard. Sessions began at 8.30---and went on to 6.0 p.m., with an hour's break at mid-day. Perhaps too many papers were read which limited the opportunities for discussion.

The official programme of diversions was delightfully varied. Notable was the reception at the Castle Mirabell by the Austrian Society of Homceopathic Physicians, where we were entertained by songs and dances from the mountains. The sight of these vital young country people dancing in boots on the marble floor was unforgettable. Remarkable also were the ventriloquial effects produced by a lady yodel]er!

The Mayor of Salzburg at a later evening received us in the Knight'S Hall of the Residenz, where we were entertained with a concert of Mozart's music, superbly played. The final banquet, at the Stigl-Br~u, an inn of the White Horse pattern, was a very happy evening, with informal speeches and an atmosphere of great cordiality.

But there were many opportunities in Salzburg besides the official programme. The Opera House had a varied programme, the famous Richer Marionettes

were performing; the many churches repaid a visit. Especially interesting to watch was'the team of artists painting frescoes inside the recently repaired dome so seriously damaged by bombing.

For the gourmet, there were such items as butterschnitzel with asparagus, poached eggs with Kraut sauce or omelette mirabeU to sample. For the matcria medica fan, there was the wood above S~. Gelgen where he could find growing together, Helleborus niger, Convallaria and Cyclamen. All in all a most rewarding Congress.

F.B.