Synopsis Materia Medica of Homeopathic Medicines, by S. R. Phatak, was first published in 1977. In compiling this materia medica Dr. Phatak has listed all the symptoms given by Boger in his Synoptic Key. Further, he has tried to remove ambiguities and simplified the writing. In addition Dr. Phatak has gathered many useful clinical symptoms from other sources. Under generalities the profile picture of the remedy is given along with the regions on which it acts and how it acts, diseases that it is liable to cure, and causations. Then general modalities of the remedy are given, after that, regional symptoms with particulars follow. Phatak felt that remedies were best identified by the symptoms found in the Mind, Generalities, and Modalities. To then identify the remedy in relation to the patient the homeopath should then look at the corresponding rubrics in the repertory. The relative importance of each remedy would then be fixed in the homeopath's mind by comparing it with other remedies under the same rubric.