Gentry’s Concordance Repertory

Gentry’s Concordance Repertory –

Full Name of Repertory : The Concordance Repertory of Materia Medica by Gentry

Name of Author : William D. Gentry

Published : 1890

No. of Volumes : 6 volumes

No. of Medicines : 420

Plan and Construction • It is a Large Concordance Repertory • Having 6 volumes • Symptoms are arranged in alphabetical order under each chapter • Rubrics & subrubrics are arranged in alphabetical order

History • Constantly dull mental headache & tiredness while reading in the rubrics • After a tedious search & fruitless in finding the remedy & the author exclaimed ; "If we only had a repertory arranged on the plan of Cruden's Concordance of Bible, it would have been necessary only to refer to the letter U and index (Habitus) & find at once the desired symptom."

Special Features • In this repertory, author has tried to use the phraseology of materia medica without much change. • All the more charac & pathogenetic symp are given • One Symp can be referred at many places only those clinical symptoms which have been repeated verified are included. • Symptoms here arranged in alphabetical order under every chapter • Symptom can be found out easily which saves a lot of time • Few clinical hints & are given after few rubrics from his clinical experiences. • Even a layman can refer to it successfully.

Limitations • This repertory is not useful for systematic repertorization • Majority of rubrics consists of only one remedy Hence it cannot be used for Unrepertorization • Not useful for a bedside prescription as it contains only 6 volumes. • No gradation of drugs are mentioned • One who uses the book should have thorough knowledge of symptoms. • Source of book is not mentioned.

Gentry’s Concordance Repertory – Exam-Focused Additions (Standard Points)

Philosophy

• Pure concordance type – symptoms taken verbatim from provings & materia medica without much change in language.

Sources

• Mainly from Hering’s Guiding Symptoms & other authentic provings.

Advantages (Most Asked)

• Language of provers preserved → most authentic & reliable
• Clinical symptoms only verified ones included
• Easy to find symptom due to alphabetical arrangement (saves time)
• Cross-references at many places
• Useful for beginners & laymen also (easy language)

Disadvantages (Most Asked)

• No gradation of remedies
• Too bulky (6 volumes) → not practical for bedside
• Majority rubrics have single remedy → cannot be used for repertorisation
• No separate generals or particulars section
• Not suitable for systematic case-taking

Scope / Utility

• Best for finding particular symptoms in original language
• Useful when exact symptom is known from patient
• Good reference book for verification of symptoms

Quick Comparison (Common 10-Mark Question)