KENT’S
USE OF POTENCY
by Peter Morrell
A cat drawn for Louis, my son, now aged 2, June 1998 – Peter Morrell
The following data is drawn from Kent’s Lesser Writings and includes all
entries listed (pp.198-637).
|
Potency |
Number |
|
3x |
3 |
|
6x |
5 |
|
12x |
6 |
|
12 |
1 |
|
30x |
1 |
|
30 |
17 |
|
60 |
1 |
|
200 |
22 |
|
300 |
2 |
|
500 |
6 |
|
800 |
1 |
|
M’s |
35 |
|
10M’s |
96 (25.2%) |
|
20M’s |
6 |
|
30M’s |
4 |
|
40M’s |
24 |
|
50M’s |
50 (13%) |
|
60M’s |
1 |
|
70M’s |
9 |
|
80M’s |
6 |
|
CM’s |
52 (13.7% ) |
|
DM’s |
7 |
|
MM’s |
26 |
|
total |
381 |
|
10M |
+ 281 |
74% |
|
<30 |
33 |
8% |
|
> 20M |
185 |
48.6% |
We can make a few points from this data so as to more clearly summarise
his prescribing habits. Almost half his prescribing is over 20M (185 = 48.6%); almost 3/4
(74%) of his prescribing is over 10M (281 out of 381); 33 out of 381 (= 8.7%) is with
potency 30 or less, which was virtually the maximum potency Hahnemann ever used on a regular
basis. Kent’s most popular potencies were in the 10M’s (96 = 25.2%), followed by the CM’s
(52 = 13.7%) and the 50M’s (50 = 13%). It is true that he occasionally made use of the lower
potencies like 30, 30x and 12, but these only accounted for some 8% of his total.
Kent probably experimented with the higher potencies more than any other
homeopath and certainly refined their use into a high art. This was probably his greatest
contribution to homeopathy. In this respect he followed up the previous work of Jenichen and
Bonninghaussen, who were the first great exponents of the higher potencies, a predilection
which brought them into disagreement with their revered Master.