Synthetic Repertory – Synoptic Notes

Author & Publication

• Authors: Dr. Horst Barthel (Vol. I & II) & Dr. Will Klunker (Vol. III)
• First published: 1973 (Germany)
• Improved: 1982
• Indian edition: 1987 (B. Jain Publishers, New Delhi)

Full Name

Synthetic Repertory (also called Barthel & Klunker’s Synthetic Repertory)

Philosophical Background

• Based on deductive logic
• Supplements & continues Kent’s Repertory (considered most complete)
• Title “Synthetic” reflects three-fold synthesis:

1. Supplements from oldest to latest homoeopathic literature
2. Register of equivalents & related symptoms
3. Composition of individual subjects

• Enriched with many qualified mental & physical generals to overcome difficulties in converting general (esp. mental) symptoms
• Limited to General symptoms only

Volumes & Contents

• Volume I: Mental Symptoms – Main rubrics: 604 – Cross references: 33
• Volume II: Physical Generals – Main rubrics: 368 – Cross references: 23 – Includes time modalities, circumstances, clinical conditions
• Volume III: Sleep, Dreams, Sex – Sleep: 44 rubrics – Dreams: 460 main rubrics – Sex: Male (16 rubrics), Female (26 rubrics) – covers menses, pregnancy, childhood, menopause, abnormal sexual function

Plan & Construction

• Total drugs: 1546
• Rubrics arranged alphabetically in each volume under chapters
• Obsolete drugs (e.g., Eleghictitas, Galvanism, Magnetic artificial, complex snake acid, Ophiotoxin) not retained
• Source of data mentioned with numbers in rubrics

Arrangement of Rubrics

• Volume I: General → Cross reference (italics) → Modalities (General to Particular) → Sub-rubrics (alphabetical)
• Volume II: Time modality → General rubrics (574) → Food & drink (desire/aversion A–Z) → Pain (appearance, direction, position, type)
• Volume III: General → Time modality → Clinical → Cross-reference

Gradation of Remedies

• Capital underlined → highest grade (e.g., Nux-v)
• Capital → NUX-V
• Bold → NUX-V
• Ordinary → Nux-v

Concept of Totality (Hierarchy)

1. Mental expressions (causative modalities – AIF, emotional, intellectual, behaviour)
2. Physical expressions (general modalities, food/drinks – AIF/agg/amel/desire/aversion, sleep, dreams, sex)
3. Cross-references

Special Features

• Large number of rubrics & medicines
• Causative modalities under “Ailment from” (Vol. I)
• Food & drink modalities grouped in one place (Vol. II)
• Well-arranged time & clinical rubrics
• Corrected common errors (double entries, lack of clarity, wrong nomenclature)
• Abbreviations agg/amel used uniformly; asterisk (*) for new rubrics

Criticism

• Not a complete repertory (absence of particulars)
• Not suitable for quick bedside reference
• Many medicines poorly proved or unavailable in common Materia Medica
• Pages divided by vertical line – may cause confusion
• Some medicines not found in standard MM → incomplete knowledge

Additional Keypoints Added for Completeness

• Primarily a general repertory – best used when strong mental and physical generals are available.
• Valuable for chronic cases with clear general symptoms and for confirming Kent’s Repertory findings.
• Modern updates and corrections make it more reliable than older editions of Kent for general work.