§ 44 Fifth Edition
Two diseases similar to each other can neither (as is asserted
of dissimilar disease in I) repel one another, nor (as
has been shown of dissimilar disease in II) suspend on
another, so that the old one shall return after the new one has run its course; and just
as little can two similar diseases (as has been demonstrated in III respecting dissimilar affections) exist beside each other
in the same organism, or together form a double complex disease.
Two similar diseases can neither (as is asserted of dissimilar
disease in I) repel one another, nor (as has been shown
of dissimilar disease in II) suspend on another, so that
the old one shall return after the new one has run its course; and just as little can two similar
diseases (as has been demonstrated in III respecting dissimilar
affections) exist beside each other in the same organism, or together form a double
complex disease.
No! Two diseases, differing, it is true, in kind
1 but very similar in their phenomena and effects and in the sufferings and symptoms they severally produce, invariably annihilate one another whenever they meet together in the organism; the stronger disease namely, annihilates the weaker, and that for this simple reason, because the stronger morbific power when it invades the system, by reason of its similarity of action involves precisely the same part of the organism that were previously affected by the weaker morbid irritation, which, consequently, can no longer act on these parts, but is extinguished 2, or (in other words) because, whenever the vital force, deranged by the primary disease, is more strongly attacked by the new, very similar, but stronger dynamic morbific power, it therefore now remains affected by the latter alone, whereby the original, similar but weaker disease must, as a mere dynamic power without material substratum, cease to exercise any further morbid influence on the vital force, consequently it must cease to exist.1 Vide,
supra, § 26, note
2 Just as
the image of a lamp’s flame is rapidly overpowered and effaced from our retina by the
stronger sunbeam impinging on the eye.
§ 45 Sixth Edition
No! Two diseases, differing, it is true, in kind 1 but very similar in their phenomena and effects and in the sufferings and symptoms they severally produce, invariably annihilate one another whenever they meet together in the organism; the stronger disease namely, annihilates the weaker, and that for this simple reason, because the stronger morbific power when it invades the system, by reason of its similarity of action involves precisely the same part of the organism that were previously affected by the weaker morbid irritation, which, consequently, can no longer act on these parts, but is extinguished 2, or (in other words), the new similar but stronger morbific potency controls the feelings of the patient and hence the life principle on account of its peculiarity, can no longer feel the weaker similar which becomes extinguished - exists no longer - for it was never anything material, but a dynamic - spirit-like - (conceptual) affection. The life principle henceforth is affected only and this but temporarily by the new, similar but stronger morbific potency.
1 Vide,
supra, § 26, note
2 Just as
the image of a lamp’s flame is rapidly overpowered and effaced from our retina by the
stronger sunbeam impinging on the eye.