ACT
Practice Test 40

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NATURAL SCIENCE: A Short History of Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a system for treating physical disease and other ailments using the theory of treating “like with like.” In practice, homeopathic medicine seeks substances that mimic an ailment’s symptoms;

Line 5 this sameness is considered “likeness.” The substance is then diluted to infinitesimal amounts and administered to the patient in order to cure the problem. Homeopathic treatment is currently in use for everything from cancer to colds and flu, though many

10 scientists remain heavily skeptical about its efficacy. Homeopathy was developed in the late 18th century by the German medical doctor Samuel Hahnemann. Despite being a physician himself, Hahnemann was deeply skeptical of the medical practices

15 of his time. In general, 18th century medicine was founded on the theory of the four temperaments, or “humors”: Choleric, Melancholic, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic. These temperaments were based on the various possible combinations of hot and cold and wet

20 and dry. A choleric, or angry, disposition meant that a person had a constitution that was essentially hot and dry. Phlegmatic, or unemotional, persons were thought to be cold and wet. Melancholy was caused by an excess of cold and dry, whereas Sanguine, or

25 passionate, persons were hot and wet. Humors theory was first developed by the Greek physician Hippocrates, the founder of western medicine, and later expanded upon by Galen. When a person became ill, doctors believed it was because one

30 or more of the humors had come out of balance. Some of the best treatments were thought to be bloodletting and purgation —the assumption being that these treatments would effectively drain off the excess humors. Other popular treatments included blistering plasters

35 and emetics. Often the treatment proved worse than the disease. Many patients died from excessive bloodloss or were poisoned by unregulated medications. In this environment, Hahnemann’s skepticism was well warranted.

40 Hahnemann first stumbled upon his theory when he was investigating a common treatment for malaria, cinchona bark. Modern scientists now know that cinchona bark contains quinine—a substance still used to treat malaria—but at the time, no one knew why

45 the bark was effective. Hahnemann chose to implement the concept of treating “like with like” by testing an undiluted dose of the bark on himself. Finding that he had symptoms similar to those of malaria sufferers, Hahnemann concluded that effective drugs must produce

50 symptoms in healthy people that are similar to those produced by the diseases that the drugs would be expected to treat. Hahnemann further hypothesized that, while undiluted substances would only worsen symptoms in the sick, heavily diluted substances could

55 be effective for a cure. The doctor and his colleagues then proceeded to test a variety of substances to see what symptoms they induced, in the hopes of finding cures for diseases with similar symptoms. Perhaps not surprisingly, Hahnemann’s new field of homeopathy

60(i.e. “similar suffering”) was met with considerable resistance from doctors comfortable with their usual practices. In fact, Hahnemann’s methodology for scientifically testing potential treatments was remarkably

65 modern. Nevertheless, his conclusions remain extraordinarily controversial. One of the main points of contention involves the standard homeopathic practice of heavy dilution to create the appropriate dose of a substance. Dilution of homeopathic substances

70 happens in stages. Hahnemann had hypothesized that shaking the solution after each dilution would imprint the molecular “memory” of the original substance into the solution, which would allow the diluted dose to be effective without the possibility of overdose or adverse

75 side effects. Modern scientists have been unable to find any evidence to support the theory of molecular memory. In fact, the idea that diluting a substance makes it stronger runs against the principles of chemistry and physics.

80 Moreover, scientists point to a lack of standardized clinical data on homeopathic treatment. Clinical studies that do show effectiveness indicate that homeopathic cure rates are generally equal to those of placebos. Today, many conventional medical practitioners

85 generally disregard homeopathy. Homeopathic practitioners are frequently termed quacks by conventional scientists. Nevertheless, homeopathy remains extremely popular both in the United States and abroad. In European countries such as France and England,

90 conventional doctors frequently prescribe homeopathic treatments for common illnesses such as colds and flu. Pharmacists who are trained to answer questions about the homeopathic treatments’ use and desired effects then fill the prescriptions.

The passage mentions all of the following about the use of homeopathy to treat disease EXCEPT that:

  • Solution

    The best answer is D. Of the four answer choices, choices A, B, and C can all be found in the first paragraph of the passage. This passage reads, “Homeopathy is a system for treating physical disease and other ailments using the theory of treating “like with like.” In practice, homeopathic medicine seeks substances that mimic an ailment’s symptoms; this sameness is considered “likeness.” The substance is then diluted to infinitesimal amounts and administered to the patient in order to cure the problem. Homeopathic treatment is currently in use for everything from cancer to colds and flu, though many scientists remain heavily skeptical about its efficacy.” Not only is answer choice D not mentioned in this paragraph, but the passage indicates that, “Modern scientists have been unable to find any evidence to support the theory of molecular memory,” which is the opposite of the statement asserted by answer choice D.

According to the fifth paragraph (lines 63–75), Hahnemann hypothesized that heavily diluted substances remained effective because:

  • Solution

    The best answer is F. The passage states that, “Hahnemann had hypothesized that shaking the solution after each dilution would imprint the molecular “memory” of the original substance into the solution, which would allow the diluted dose to be effective without the possibility of overdose or adverse side effects.” This information best supports answer choice F.

Hahnemann believed cinchona bark was an effective treatment for malaria because it caused similar symptoms when taken by a healthy person. According to the fourth paragraph, what reason would a modern scientist likely give for using cinchona bark to treat malaria?

  • Solution

    The best answer is C. As stated in the passage, “Hahnemann first stumbled upon his theory when he was investigating a common treatment for malaria, cinchona bark. Modern scientists now know that cinchona bark contains quinine—a substance still used to treat malaria—but at the time, no one knew why the bark was effective.” This information best supports answer choice C.

According to the passage, one of the reasons modern scientists are unable to find evidence to support homeopathic treatment is because:

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The passage states, “Modern scientists have been unable to find any evidence to support the theory of molecular memory. In fact, the idea that diluting a substance makes it stronger runs against the principles of chemistry and physics.” Based on this information, one can infer that modern doctors are unable to find evidence to support homeopathic treatment because the theory of molecular memory is contrary to the principles of chemistry and physics.

Information in the last paragraph indicates that:

  • Solution

    The best answer is C. The last paragraph of the passage states, “Today, homeopathy is generally disregarded by many conventional medical practitioners. Homeopathic practitioners are frequently termed quacks by conventional scientists. Nevertheless, homeopathy remains extremely popular both in the United States and abroad. In European countries such as France and England, conventional doctors frequently prescribe homeopathic treatments for common illnesses, such as colds and flu. Pharmacists who are trained to answer questions about the homeopathic treatments’ use and desired effects then fill the prescriptions.” Based on this information, one can conclude that, although there is a lack of clinical data, homeopathy remains a popular form of treatment, even among doctors and pharmacists.

The passage indicates that, in the Middle Ages, illness was thought to be caused by an imbalance in the “humors” that was best treated by:

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. As is explained by the passage, “When a person became ill, doctors believed it was because one or more of the humors had come out of balance. Some of the best treatments were thought to be bloodletting and purgation— with the assumption being that these treatments would effectively drain off the excess humors.” This information best supports answer choice F.

According to the passage, a person with a sanguine disposition would most likely be which of the following?

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. As described in the second paragraph of the passage, “… Sanguine, or passionate, persons were hot and wet.”

As it is used in line 62, the word practices most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The fourth paragraph of the passage states that, “Perhaps not surprisingly, Hahnemann’s new field of homeopathy (i.e. “similar suffering”) was met with considerable resistance from doctors comfortable with their usual practices.” As it is used in this sentence, one can infer that practices most closely means the various treatments employed by doctors of Hahnemann’s era. This information best supports answer choice J.

According to the passage, why did Hahnemann use heavily diluted substances to treat patients?

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. The fourth paragraph of the passage explains, “Hahnemann further hypothesized that, while undiluted substances would only worsen symptoms in the sick, heavily diluted substances could be effective for a cure.” This information best supports answer choice B.

In the last paragraph, the author expresses which of the following beliefs about homeopathy?

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. The last paragraph of the passage explains that homeopathy is a controversial form of medical treatment. “Nevertheless, homeopathy remains extremely popular both in the United States and abroad.” This information best supports answer choice H.

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