Introduction
Carbolic acid, phenic acid, CH6O. Obtained from coal tar by fractional distillation and purification.
Provings
Dr. BACMEISTER, aet. 39, of nervous-sanguine temperament. February 7th. Five drops of 1st on sugar caused sense of freedom and expansion in lungs (5 m.); coryza in open air only (21 m.); frontal headache, slight (1 h.) crampy stitch in left groin (2 h.). 11th. Five drops of 12th caused, very soon, slight heat in left face and forehead, and in 15 m. sense as of fine electric sparks in left ala nasi, sternal end of right clavicle, middle finger of left hand, and vertex, in succession. It changed slowly to a pricking itching, with desire to rub, and relief therefrom. After dinner long-continued hiccough, and in evening entire disinclination to study. Two d. after, swelling and soreness of left cheek, opposite molars. Throughout and subsequently motions much freer than usual. (Proving-Carbolic Acid, Chicago, 1869.)
2. Dr. HOYNE. Sanguine-bilious; very susceptible to drugs. January 20th. Took 5 drops of 6th cent. Slight and transient drawing pains, or tingling itching, were felt in various parts; but there was a more persistent burning pain in vertex and right temple, with much flatulence and eructation, and at one time incessant yawning. Bright red blood was blown from nose in e. 30th. Same dose. The pains and itchings, flatulence, yawnings and headache recurred; there was also constant inclination to cough, and soreness on pressure of left side of larynx. He was feverish at night; and next day his urine was more copious, and had a strong smell. February 4th. Took 5 drops of 3rd cent. Besides the usual symptoms, he had (15 morning) soreness of throat on empty deglutition, with frequent sharp prickings in it, and (next day) very severe aching pain in right hip, shifting to left shoulder. From 7th to 12th had a vesicle, ending in a pustule, on centre of nose. [ “During this proving” Dr. Hoyne notes “an acne, with which I had been troubled more or less for three years, disappeared.” ] (Ibid.)
3. Miss G. H., aet. 11. January 20th. Took 2 drops of 6th cent. at 4:15 p.m. At 4:20 very dizzy; things seem moving backwards and forwards; pulse 95; cannot see across room. 4:30. Nausea; feet feel heavy. 4:40 Pulse 100; cannot walk straight; drowsy and tired in e.; next morning dull pain in right ankle and left knee. (Ibid.)
4. Miss. T. S. H. January 20th, 4:15 p.m. Took 3 drops of 6th. Burning in stomach, forehead and throat in succession; heavy pain from forehead to occiput; things seem to move before eyes. In 1 1/2 h. these symptoms had disappeared, but later nausea came on, and continued till noon next day. On 22nd there was a slight vesicular eruption all over body. (Ibid.)
5. J. T. H., aet. 21. February 7th, 8:30 p.m., took 5 drops of 6th. In 5 m. dizziness, headache as in No. 4. In 10 m. pulse had risen from 66 to 90, and it subsequently fell only to 80. Face flushed and burning; itching in various places, belching, and yawning, were frequent during evening. Had hard headache during night. In morning this continued, and he felt as if a band were round forehead. Woke up in middle of night bathed in perspiration. Pulse at 9 a.m. 100. By noon symptoms had disappeared. On 10th a vesicular eruption appeared on hands and all over body, itching excessively; rubbing relieves itching, but leaves burning pain. This resisted medication, and did not disappear till 28th. (Ibid.)
6. Dr. S. P. HEDGES. February 5th. Five drops of 6th taken at 11 a.m. caused no symptoms that d., but next morning he awoke with a dull, hot, constricted feeling in head, especially in forehead. This lasted all day, becoming an ache at times, and until late at night. Before rising he had also, for 5 or 10 m., an acute piercing pain in left supra-orbital ridge; it ceased on rising, but left spot affected sore for more than one day. 27th. Same dose, taken at 3:15 p.m., brought on next morning same headache, but more severe Pressure relieved, but only at first. Head seemed to swell, and felt hot, as if heat radiated from it. Passed much urine Next d. (as before) felt soreness only. Prover is not subject to headache, and never experienced anything like this. (Ibid.)
7. Dr. E. C. PRICE, aet. 43. In perfect health. August 14th. Took two doses of 5 drops of 3rd cent. without effect. 17th, took 10 drops, on 18th 20, and later 50 drops. Had aching soreness in one or other knee under patella, and some transient pains elsewhere. Passed much water. On 19th took 10 drops of 3x at 9 a.m., and 30 drops at 8 p.m. 20th. Had rheumatic pain in right shoulder-joint nearly all day, and regarded it as an attack of rheumatism in the shoulder, having suffered with several attacks during the last 18 years, but they never lasted less than three or four days, while this passed off suddenly in the e., like all the carbolic acid pains, which also come suddenly. 21st. Pain for some time inside knee-joint. 23rd. At 8:45 p.m. took 20 drops of 2x. About 10, severe bruised pain beneath left tendo Achillis, as if struck by a club; in a few minutes it disappeared for a short time, when he had a sharp pain in second joint of left middle finger; this pain was only momentary, when it went back (not less intensely) to the leg again. (Amer. Observer, viii, 148.)
8. Dr. LILIENTHAL, aet. 52. Sanguine temp. April 14th, at 1 p.m., took 12 drops of 1x in teaspoonful of water, and at 4 12 drops of a 1 to 20 solution. Besides symptoms of local irritation, became sleepy and chilly, with disinclination to mental effort, even reading; and had full frontal headache with feeling as if elastic hand were drawn tightly across forehead, worse on left side. On 15th, took, at 7 a.m., same dose as last, and at noon 12 drops of a solution of 1 to 25. In forenoon fullness felt all over head, with pain in forehead and occiput; there was also a sense of narrowness in chest, as if diaphragm oppressed lungs. Tired sensation in lumbar region, then dull aching there, increased on straightening trunk, and by jolting of driving, which also hurts abdominal parietes. Pain extends down back of thighs. Noon dose increased fulness of head, with which were vertigo, trembling, and tingling of feet; but all symptoms were relieved by a meal at 1 p.m., save frontal headache, and this passed off in e. For next 2 d. was irritable, head muddled, with sleepiness, mental and bodily laziness, and easily induced fatigue. On 18th had dull heavy pain in left temple during d. On 19th frontal and lumbar pains recurred; could not fix attention; legs felt heavy as lead. These symptoms, with neuralgic pains in left temple, continued till 22nd, and a burning feeling in stomach, which came on in afternoon of 15th, was felt all the while, though appetite and digestion were good. May 3rd. During day took three doses of 12 to 30 drops of 1st. Slight local symptoms, and some trace of left temporal neuralgia, were all that occurred. On 4th took 12 drops of 1x, which brought back all the head symptoms, with pronounced heat there; fresh air only relieved, “cooling heated brain.” Reading was impossible, letters looking blurred and fading into one another. Symptoms diminished towards e., though he took 12 drops of 1st at 5 p.m.; but on retiring to bed, after smoking his usual pipe, he felt as if the tobacco had disagreed with him. Next d. head and chest were oppressed; thighs felt bruised, and back weak and sore; there was burning at stomach, and weight after food. May 6th. A fresh dose of 12 drops of 1st renewed symptoms, and proving was discontinued. (Trans. of N. Y. State Hom. Soc., viii, 232.)
9. Mrs. S. A.F., M. D. May 7th. Two doses of 4 to 5 drops of 1st brought on frontal symptoms as with last prover; and another dose next day added frequent micturition. On 10th the same was taken in dosi refracta at intervals; and brought on transient pain (twice) in left ovary, and oppression of chest, with dull pain in upper lobes of lungs. Next day there was a slight pustular eruption on right side of face, great heat of body, and physical exhaustion. (Ibid.)
10. Mrs. C. L., M. D. Doses of 1st caused dull frontal headache and total loss of appetite. [ They at the same time relieved temporarily a lumbo-sacral aching from which prover was rarely free. On 25th a dose of the 30th relieved this pain “like magic,” and there was no recurrence of it to May 14th. (Ibid.)
11. Dr. C. H. HAESELER. On 21st June took two doses, first of 1 drop, second of 5 drops, of pure acid in glycerine and water. Next day took 10 drops, and on 23rd 20 drops. Each dose produced to a greater or less degree the features of acute dyspepsia, with head symptoms like those of No. 8, the sharp, darting neuralgic pains in the midst of the dull aching being very pronounced. (Hahn. Monthly, Dec., 1869.)
12. X. Y., a friend to whom Dr. H. gave 6 drops as an experiment, had similar symptoms. Headache was felt most over right eye; chest felt oppressed, as after excess in eating; was drowsy and nervous; and subsequently had pain in back and right side. (Ibid.)
Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.