INTELLECTUAL SURFEIT

INTELLECTUAL SURFEIT

Dr. M. A. Usmani

(Author: Homeopathy of Tomorrow; & Story of Homeopathy)

Intellectual surfeit is an ultramodern phenomenon, begotten of the inundation of the human mind with the printed word and a flood of information, retrievable at a single click of the keyboard. Nonchalance is the natural outcome of such a mental surfeit. People are tired of the printed word, or the printed matter in the form of books or periodicals so readily accessible. They routinely glance over what comes in the field of their vision, imbibing or ingesting nothing—not even an iota of the message delivered. Elaborated books or serious periodicals are routinely shunned.  The online interaction suffices for all sorts of knowledge and information that creates a banal attitude of complacency.

I alighted on the LinkedIn with the bang of a conspicuous advertisement of my book: HOMEOPATHY of TOMORROW, inaugurated on March 4, 2015, in Gymkhana Lahore, Pakistan, and in New York, by Debby Bruck, the founder of the famous portal: Homeopathy world community. [Accessible on YOUTUBE, with the search word: ‘Homeopathy of Tomorrow’]. This book, from the very caption of it, seems not a common-run sort of a book. My articles are all praised, but nobody has ever enquired about the availability of this maverick publication. There are many editors, proprietors of many Homeopathic periodicals and internet portals; and owners of many publishing houses on LinkedIn, nonetheless.

On the websites where people upload their blogs or articles, the fraternity of that site do nothing more than clicking ‘Like’, which conveys nothing; and sometimes this clicking of ‘like’ is quite irrelevant. The author has demanded the participation of the reader, his affirmation or criticism, revealing intelligent response. The ‘comments’ tag is seldom clicked. From the people of the same profession one expects constructive criticism. I’ve a following of more than two thousand people, most of who belong to the health profession, and predominant percentage among them being homeopaths from all over the world, more so from India. How unsavory is the word ‘followers’ for friends who got together because of one pursuit or similar mission! There is no leader and followers, no guru and disciples, no pundit and laity. They are a coterie of refined people getting together for a purpose or pursuit. So these ‘followers’ are not acolytes. They are my valued friends whom I pay a respect as venerable individuals, with fine sensibilities. It is natural that people of similar activities and pursuits ‘flock’ together and become friends.

 I once asked an Editor of a homeopathic journal to review my book. He sent me an address of an American lady, advising me to contact her by sending my book to her. What an idea! Every Tom, Dick and Harry, or any professional reviewer can review any book under the sun. When the credentials of the reviewer are not known how can an author send his publication for his/her review?

This is a theoretic book, I’m a theoretic writer. I’m loth to talking about my successes or exploits in my homeopathic practice. It’s not a case-book, where I would have talked about my cured cases. Such books are useless. In conferences I always absent myself from sessions where the writers tell the stories of their exploits and successes, documented with photos and diagrams, etc. Mostly it is a futile exercise, not much enlightening. There is always left much to be desired. The personal impact of patient-doctor’s encounter is totally lacking. A classical homeopath is not supposed to search ‘disease specific’ drugs. It is none of his business. Pathology may be strongly indicating a drug, but his decision may depend on such a spurious symptom as whether the patient is ‘brave’ or ‘timid’, or outspoken or shy. For such emotions to surface, the patient may go on suffering for many more days to come.

So, such books that detail cured cases are drab literature—seldom enlightening. First the pathology of the patient be described, then the pathologic remedies germane to the case be discussed for choosing the one that matches the temperament and personality of the patient. Read my book: HOMEOPATHY of TOMORROW! A drug that cures pathology must be able to produce that pathology. A subject that must be discussed in detail. This book is a ‘must have’ and ‘must read’ for every serious homeopath, classical or otherwise—but more so the classical

• There are 14 chapters with the tag:‘(A critique of Classical Homeopathy-1, 2 or 3, etc.)’ This important portion of 14 chapters makes a serious homeopath feel the difficulties in realizing many ideals of classical homeopathy. Many concepts and ideals of homeopathy have become redundant and meaningless with reference to modern medical science.
• We cannot take Allopathy as a separate faction of medical science. It is, ipso facto, the medical science, the sole science of medicine. Diagnostics as X-Rays, electro-magnetic scans as CT-Scans, MRI, Ultrasounds, ECG, EEG and countless blood serum tests, with a good array of surgeries make a seamless whole as modern medical science. The term ‘allopathy’, of Hahnemann’s times, does not cover all this; neither does it exist anymore.
• Medical science is one. Therapeutic differences do not occasion chasms or create cleavages. In the modern state of medicine only a tyro, for example, will try to ‘cure’ cataract in eyes by medicine of a patient of the age of 6 decades and ten. [Unless the patient is financially destitute, or Government does not support the surgical expenditure], he should simply go for Phaco surgery, and get brand-new eyes within half an hour: 6/6. Discard complacency and let fresh air blow on the crevices and convolutions of the brain. This is the way living beings survive and progress: to which they term the ‘survival of the fittest’.
• All the arrays of medical technology, all the electro-magnetic gadgets, are not ALLOPATHY of yore; but the armamentarium of the modern medicine. Medicine or the medical science admits of no factions: neither religious, nor spiritual, nor of any spurious philosophy.
• It is quite amusing to think or conjecture what state of affairs would have been there if (IF—in capitals) the Providence had ordained that the therapeutic law for all the ills of mankind would be the Law of Similars. Could all the medical research that we see and find today would have ever been possible? Hypoglycemic treatment and maneuvering of the diabetics, failing kidneys and dialysis, instant bypass and other surgeries of the heart, extension of useful life by pacemakers, and countless other measures—that are in routine now—would have ever been heard? And the world is now preparing to plunge into the immense possibilities of employing stem-cells for therapeutic purposes. Soon we’ll find rejuvenated and brand new hearts created and remedied by the use of stem-cells. What modicum of knowledge and vision we were born with, we would certainly have died with the same blinkers on. Without the replacement of lenses by Phaco Surgery and other inventions in the field of eyes, half of the old population would have myopia, failing sight and blindness and would have accepted it as their inevitable destiny. Bliss is tagged with ignorance not without reason. Credit should be paid where it is due.
• It is a singular phenomenon (and quite amusing) that great publishers of homeopathic books, in Indo-Pak continent, would feel constraint in  accepting serious and futuristic books for publication; and would go on printing popular titles in tons by weight. ‘First service then earning’ should be the motto.
• In Pakistan this book can be had from the following publishers and booksellers:

Islamabad:

• Saeed Book Bank, F-7 Market; Phone: +923204731374; +92512651659 
• Mr. Books: Shop No. 8, Agha Khan Road, Super Market, F6 Markaz; Contacts: (123)051-2870919;

KARACHI

• Hahnemann Book house & Pharmacy; Kaneez Esquire, Nazimabad;  Contacts: +923201489517; +92321 8970627

LAHORE:

• Cantt. FerozeSons Ltd. Contacts: 924235692934-5
• Gulberg:  READINGS, Main Boulevard; Contacts: +923008489190
• Gurumangat, VANGUARD BOOKS; Contacts: ­+92-42-35754275; +923009552542
• Anarkali, RAHIM HOMEOPATHIC STORE; Contact: +923004177310
• Dr. Masood Homeopathic Stores, AllamaIqbal Road: Contacts: +92-42-35114165; 92-42-35156202