Page 8 - Winter 2011

Guest Editorial – Living in Interesting Times by John Saxton, UK
In September last year there was a debate in Bradford, as part of the British Festival of Science, on the motion that ‘the same level of proof should be required for CAM [Complementary and Alternatice Medicine] ¡therapies as is required for conventional medi- cines’. An interesting evening in the sense of the Chinese curse of ‘living in interesting times’, with representatives of the usual suspects
demonstrating once more the truth of Lord Leach of Fairfold’s observa- tion concerning “the obsessive mentality of scientists who have put truth seeking second to the pursuit of a mission”. Although his remarks were made in relation to climate change they are undoubtedly true for the field of medicine! Part of the argument put forward in favour of CAM was the suggestion that the standards applied to conventional medicines neither could nor should be applied directly to other therapies as those standards are in fact too low; the cult of the randomised controlled trial being too restrictive to take in the whole clinical picture – it wasn’t the most popular of suggestions but it was fun making the point! However, it did provoke some discussion as to the true nature of ‘holism’, with the one side (guess which) maintaining that holism was merely the consideration of all the separate aspects of a case and the other holding to the view that it embodied the concept that ‘the whole is more than the sum of its parts’.
Enter the BAHVS
Not that the BAHVS was involved in the debate, but as the Association’s thirtieth anniversary approaches it is encouraging to reflect on how per- fectly it embodies that central tenet of holism. Born at a time when vet- erinary homeopathy appeared to be in the doldrums, if not a dying art, it has been, and is, a truly living organism growing constantly and organi- cally to meet the needs and aspirations of its members. Its fathers were the small group led by George MacLeod who had kept the veterinary homeopathic flag flying for years, its mother a more commercially mind- ed interest. However, this misconception produced a sturdy child who in a neonatal catharsis threw off its maternal influence in short time, there- by ensuring its development into a robust adult.
In fact the isolation of that early group was somewhat of an illusion in that once the Association was established it acted as a focus and ral- lying point for a surprisingly large number of like minded individuals, and membership swelled rapidly, perhaps too rapidly: membership after eight years was greater than it is today. However as the body matured the macrophages of genuine interest weeded out the lukewarm wood and as a result the current organisation is a much more dynamic and committed entity.
Looking at ‘Animal Energy’ today it is hard to remember that the association’s conferences were born out of failure – the inability to attract a quorum to the third AGM and hence to transact any business. Thus the initial aim was for an adequate attendance at that meeting in subsequent years and thus the idea of a weekend event surfaced. The success of that approach can be seen today but the early meetings were as much social gatherings as serious study weekends. Spouses and others (‘partners’ hadn’t been invented in those days!) were an integral part of proceed- ings, lectures were basically home grown with only the occasional guest and the emphasis was as much on enjoyment as advanced learning. Periodically the association’s academic toe was dipped into other thera- pies but it soon became clear that the organisation was really interested only in homeopathy whatever else individual members might be involved with. Hence, under the careful guidance of Richard Allport the ground was laid for the beautiful butterfly that today is ‘Animal energy’.
No history of the BAHVS, even one as informal and incomplete as this, can ignore the presence and influence of its ‘Great Aunt’, the Faculty of Homeopathy. Not an aunt in the Wodehouse tradition of domineering and authoritative harridans, but rather a kindly, benevolent and always
helpful relative. With the support of many of its members, notably Anne Clover, David Spence, David Williams and the then Dean Barry Rose, aided and abetted by the Sage of Stanford, a truly symbiotic relationship was established which has grown steadily over the years to the benefit of both.
So what is the point of these perhaps slightly frivolous ramblings? The first is that no one created the BAHVS as it is today, it just developed in a natural way, and such help as it has received has always assisted that natural process – and the aim of all true healing and creativity is to ‘assist nature’. Secondly, Mark’s President’s letter in the last issue points out that there is a concerted attack against altruistic practitioners, and the word ‘concerted’ is significant – only separate groups need to be reg- imented and concerted. At the root of many of the problems outlined by Mark is the reductionism inherent in the conventional model, whilst at the same time its proponents attempt to solve those problems by adhering to that very model. Their choice/challenge, as Galbraith says above, is between changing their minds or proving there is no need to do so – and so they attempt the latter.
Of course, understanding why you are being persecuted does not make it any less unpleasant, and as Jane [Keogh] points out, that perse- cution has been going on for over two hundred years (but it hasn’t worked yet). However, before you slip completely into Staphisagria/Iodum mode, just reflect that things are not as one sided as it might appear. Mark [Elliott] mentions the vaccine and diet controversies, but these are not essentially BAHVS battles: the group that started the vaccine debate didn’t do it as part of BAHVS policy any more than the current diet argument is an official BAHVS policy, and those involved in both didn’t become so because they are BAHVS members; rather that people who are con- cerned about such things become BAHVS members and the association acts as a catalyst – the whole is more than the sum of its parts!
The statement by the BVA is a classic of its type. Many years ago the BVA appealed to its regions for new furniture to fill its board room, and the BAHVS responded by donating a chair: so someone is sitting regularly on that chair with its BAHVS plaque whilst rubbishing their benefactor – honestly, if the profession can’t take a bribe what is it coming to?!
One slightly worrying remark in the last journal was the editor stating that she has enough material for the immediate future – dangerous stuff Malene! It is wonderful that her appeal at the conference was heeded, but that must not be an excuse for resting on laurels; keep writing for your journal [ :) ].
Thinking of things that are born and grow naturally leads on to the IAVH, another organic organisation. The increasingly close relationship deve- loping between it and the BAHVS indicates how holism creates no barri- ers, only opportunity and growth. The IAVH has its own anniversaries looming, which deserve to be celebrated as part of the whole that is the unstoppable power of homeopathy. So the final message, such as it is? Take homeopathy seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously: remem- ber that you are part of a whole, not an insignificant part but an integral part and without YOU the whole does not function as well as it can.
J K Galbraith
6