Introduction
An alkaloid contained in A. napellus, and also in all other species of Aconitum save the lycoctonum. The German and French preparations differ widely in strength, as seen in two of the cases of poisoning which follow; the former is amorphous, the later crystalline. What is commonly called “English Aconitine” is a secret preparation of Morson’s and is believed to be made from the A. ferox. The alkaloid most abundant in this plant differs somewhat from ordinary aconitine in chemical composition, and has been called “pseudo-aconitine;” and Schroff’s statement that the ferox causes much dyspnoea but no facial neuralgia is supported by the comparative results of the provings of Harley and Hottot respectively. The aconitine of Messrs. T and H. Smith, of Edinburgh, seems identical with that of Morson; but the preparation of the British Pharmacopoeia is made from the A. napellus, and would represent that of the French and German observers.
Provings
1. Dworzack. – Immediately after taking it, eructations and rumbling in bowels; head and face became suddenly warm; warmth extended over rest of body, was most intense in region of stomach, and was accompanied by sweat. Then arose peculiar drawing, pressing sensation in cheeks, upper jaws, forehead, in short through whole tract of trigeminus, increasing by degrees in intensity, through whole tract of trigeminus, increasing by degrees in intensity, alternating with actual pain, which, at first occasional and fugitive, finally became steady and severe. Pulse at beginning, coincidental with accession of warmth, was more frequent; but soon after sank below regular standard, was small, weak, and at times dicrotic. Pupil showed at first an unusual mobility, was at one movement greater, at another smaller, but finally became so much dilated that only a small ring of iris could be seen. Fulness of head becomes more marked; there sets in ringing in ears and feeling of pressure there, giddiness, and distraction. Flow of ideas is sluggish, long reflection impossible, and power of attention much impaired. After slightest mental exertion the head- and face-ache become very intense. There is a certain amount of relaxation in the limbs, and every muscular exertion-much amount of relaxation in the limbs, and every muscular exertion-such, for instance, as going upstairs-is accompanied by unusual fatigue and prostration, and by increase of pain in head and face. Flow of urine very much increased. As regards difference of symptoms according to different dosage, eructations, rumbling in bowels, drawing stretching feeling in trigeminal tract, and primary rise and subsequent fall of pulse, were always present. A dose of 0.004 gramme was always followed by heat, tightness, and pain in head, lasting only a few hours; while after 0.01 gramme the symptoms recurred the day following trial on any attempt at mental or bodily activity. After 0.02 and 0.03 grammes, pulse sank to two thirds of normal standard, and remained thus low for more than 24 hours, and for same length of time continued also pain in face and head, feeling of fatigue, weakness of memory, etc. Not until second day after experiment, when these doses were given, did condition become normal. (SCHROFF, Prager Viertelj, ii.) 2. HEINRICH.- 0.05 gramme. Taste disagreeable and disgustingly bitter; in 10 morning burning sensation on tip of tongue and on lips; pulse at first accelerated, but afterwards became slower, falling in 1.1/2 hours to 47-52; whole body warm, perspiration set in, head dull and heavy, and therewith exhaustion and weakness; crawling sensation in the face, and feeling as if epidermis were scaling off; on skin appeared red spots as if from punctures; pupils dilated, pain in head and face, roaring in ears, weakness of muscles, and difficulty of respiration. Eructations and rumblings in bowels did not set in till 2 hours after dose had been taken. After supper burning sensation all over mucous membrane of mouth. The head-and face- ache lasted all the evening, as did also the debility; sleep disturbed. Day after proving pain in head and face returned, together with forgetfulness and trembling of legs. Even from smaller doses these symptoms were constant, – acceleration of pulse at first and retardation afterwards, burning on tongue, and pain in face and head (particularly in the course the supra-orbital nerve). A dose of 0.01 gramme was followed besides by inclination to cough, cough with easy expectoration, dryness in throat, eructation and exhaustion. (Ibid.)
3. HOTTOT.- Effects (of preparation known by his name) on self and two others. 3a. When a. is applied to a sensitive part of skin, whether in solution in alcohol or as a pomade, it soon produces feeling of warmth, then of burning, accompanied with sharp pains and itchings; later on, one experiences weight and numbness in parts affected, they seem to be compressed by a heavy weight; at other times skin seems as though heaved up and contracted by muscles beneath; its colour is not modified; there is anaesthesia. These symptoms last several hours, sometimes a whole day; they are never followed by general disturbances. 3b. Almost immediately after taking 3 milligrammes internally one experiences all over buccal mucous membrane sensation of acridity and heat, which travels rapidly to throat an later to stomach. This feeling soon becomes more and more acute; there is burning and numbness of lips, tongue and pharynx; at same time occurs salivation, often very abundant. To these local effects general phenomena are soon super-added; one first experiences malaise, feebleness, weight about head; then nausea, frequent yawning, oppression, and very pronounced muscular enfeeblement. Pulse rise, but to a slight extent only. Skin is moist. One is sensible of creeping on various parts of the body, and more particularly on the face and extremities. After a variable space of time depression increases, there is headache, often darting pains in face, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. Muscular enfeeblement greater, creepings more palpable, especially during immobility; limbs are as though benumbed, face tense and swollen; pulse falls, respirations. Later on there is general prostration; bruised feeling in limbs; difficulty in grasping objects; the least effort exhausts, one feels enervated; respiration is slow and deep, pulse markedly lowered. Mind remains clear; rarely any tendency to sleep; pupils dilated, but far less energetically than by atropine, dilatation develops slowly and mostly ceases under influence of brilliant light. These symptoms last from 10 to 16 hours, little by little pulse rises, respiration becomes more free, strength rallies, suspended appetite revives, in a word everything gets into good order again. the symptoms which persist to the last are acridity of throat, weight about head, and prostration. 3c. Observation.- 8:30 a.m. Six granules of a. of 1/2 milligram each; pulse 68. 8:40. Feeling of heat in stomach. 8:50 General malaise, yawnings, eructations, turns of nausea. 9. Great heat of stomach; pulse 76; burning sensation at tip of tongue, general debility, muscular enfeeblement, turns of nausea. 9:10. Burning of lips, throat, and whole buccal mucous membrane. 9:15. Creeping in face and fore-arms; pulse 84. 9:30. Oppression, headache, feeling of acridity and burning of throat much more marked, salivation. 10. General depression, great muscular enfeeblement, sweats; pulse 68; turns of nausea, vomiting. 11. Creepings in face, which seems swollen and tense, also in fore- arms and hands, which are benumbed and heavy; pulse 60. 12. Breathing irksome; pain at temple and along course of supra orbital nerve abundant perspiration; pupil not dilated; burning sensation very painful in whole mouth and larynx; lips benumbed; abundant salivation, entire want of appetite, occasional nausea. 1 p.m. Same symptoms; complete prostration of strength, heavy gait, general enervation, slight tendency to sleep. 3 p.m. Head ache with constriction at the temples, pupil dilated, respiration difficult; pulse 52. 5 p.m. Same symptoms sensibility appears to diminish, especially in hands and cheeks; mind is clear, no drowsiness. 7 p.m. The symptoms appear to amend, the head clears, the creepings diminish, the depression is less; pulse 60. 8 p.m. There is marked improvement; respiration easier, acridity, dryness and burning of the throat less pronounced; there is, however, feebleness and general lassitude; pupil remains dilated; pulse 68. 8:30. Easy sleep without agitation or dreams. The following day on waking there remain no traces of the effects of
One notes in this observation that the irritant action of the a. upon the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx made itself felt only-gradually. This is owning to the fact that the a., having been conveyed directly into the stomach in the form of granules, could only exert its irritant action immediately; when, on the contrary, it is taken in solution, and is consequently in direct contact with the mucous membrane, its local effects make themselves felt almost instantly. (L’ Aconitine et ses effets, 1863.) 4. J. HARLEY. – Subject of following observations was a large but lethargic man, aged 54, lamed by chronic sciatica. Pupils were a little unequal; at a given light right was 1/8, 1.1/7. Pulse was 66, regular, of good volume and power; respiration 16 to 17. In order to test the value of the following observations, I watched the effect of complete rest of mind and body on the respiration and pulse during 2.1/2 hours as he sat still without once rising from his seat. After 1.1/4 hours pulse was 61, of initial volume and power, respirations 16; there was slight somnolency. After 2.1/2 hours pulse was 58, not changed appreciably in volume and power, and respirations were 15; pupils were unchanged. 4a. The 1/200th of a grain of a.,[ The pure crystalised aconitia of Mr. Morson, or of Messers. T. and H. Smith, of Edinburgh, was employed in every case.] taken by mouth at intervals of 3 days, always caused slight tingling in mouth and face, coming on with in 1 hour and lasting for 2 or 3 hours. On another occasion, after gr. 1/170, a faint glowing feeling in addition was perceptible throughout body, and there was a little somnolency. On another occasion, gr. 1/150 converted glowing feeling into a numbing glow-a comfortable feeling as if he were going off to sleep, and, if he did not move about, actual somnolency. These effects attained their maximum 2 hours after dose; he felt warmer while they continued, and there was at the time and afterwards some difficulty in voiding urine.
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.