Introduction
Gallic acid, Trioxybenzoic acid, H3C7H3O5. H2O. Prepared by action of sulphuric acid on galls.
Provings
1 a. Dr. D. S. KIMBALL took, September 5, 8 a. m., gr. j of acid triturated with gr. xx of white sugar. Increased secretion of pale urine and distension of bladder at 1 p. m. when eating at 3 found appetite diminished and taste less acute than at breakfast. 6th. Towards morning gnawing, faint and sick sensation in bowels. Evacuation at noon, leaving a smarting, aching, faint, sick, hungry and gnawing sensation in bowels, extending to stomach, with nausea, lasting most of afternoon; smarting, especially in rectum. Awoke from afternoon siesta with urine and bladder symptoms of yesterday. 7th. Same symptoms, only less intense, with photophobia. At 9 p. m., pain in right lung, lessened on lying down. 8th. On rising, same pain, increased by coughing and full inspiration. (Had had congestion of lungs, especially right, 9 mo. previous.) Inhaled aconite. In evening pain somewhat increased. Next morning, soreness felt at seat of pain on gaping, coughing, and deep breathing. Took phosphorus, and symptoms disappeared. 1b. March 14. – Had already such sensations in bowels as produced by medicine, with haemorrhoidal irritation after stool- “relics of an old dyspepsia,” also much post-nasal catarrh. Three grains of 1x were triturated with 10 gr. of white sugar, and 3 gr. of resulting powder taken at 8:30 and 6:30 M. stool that day delayed till 3 p. m.; next morning all symptoms better, but urine increased 7 oz., and gums sore on left side round decayed tooth. 15th. Took two doses as yesterday. Urine still copious. In aft. and evening photophobia and burning itching of lids; dryness in mouth and throat, and bad taste. In morning some aching in middle and upper part of lungs, more in left, extending through muscles of neck and right shoulder, and down upper spine, especially on moving and turning head. Also frequent itching of skin in various places. 16th. At same hours, took gr. iij and iv of ix trit. Aching gradually gone off; photophobia and palpebral itching continued that day, and till the 19th. Increasing doses (to gr. xxvij) were taken on 18th and 19th, with progressive improvement in morbid symptoms and production of nothing fresh. Urine now had some red sediment.
1c. On several subsequent occasions, took 1x trit. for such symptoms, always with relief, and generally with development of diuresis and itching here and there on skin. (Amer. Observer, ix, 523.).
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.