Aconitum



8b. 23rd February. -40 drops of tinct in water at once. After 1 hour shooting and drawing pain in left upper and lower maxillae, in right molars in both tibiae and arms, but especially in left side of nape; at same time feeling of swelling of left cheeks, pressure in stomach, empty eructation, burning on tip of tongue with flow of water into mouth, all in rapid succession. More constant was a penetrating shooting at lower end of inner side of left forearm; heaviness and out-pressure in right side of head with slight drawing burning pain in border of right lower alveoli. The very fine shooting or shooting burning pains as if in the skin, felt in various parts of body, were sometimes accompanied by a feeling of heaviness, numbness, or swelling. A continued disagreeable feeling about hart, as if a heavy body lay there; later it was pressive and burning with accompanying pressure and flush of heat over back. Heaviness and confusion of head with tiresome pressure on left eyeball. In forenoon while walking in open air in foggy, muggy weather, – chilliness over both arms, especially left; continued pressing pain in left shoulder, apparently in conjunction with drawing and numb sensation in left occiput and posterior external aspect of left upper arm, followed by feeling of powerlessness of these parts, especially of the upper arm. About 11 a.m. when sitting still, agreeable warmth, especially from back over whole body, with moderate sweat. Continued weariness of legs, especially on going upstairs. When walking slight pains in upper abdomen and frequent fruitless calls to stool. Very frequent micturition; urine hot and high coloured. Sexual desire several times very excited. Went to bed at 2 a.m., was long of falling asleep, and sleep was not sound; vexatious quarrelsome dreams. 24th. – Had slept but little; in forenoon frequent attacks of colic, with distension of abdomen, relieved by discharge of flatus; at same time exhaustion, frequent slight chills over back and thighs, increased urine. Afternoon, during stool, cutting in bowels, which went through chest like sharp knife stabs, almost compelling him to cry out, at same time almost barrel-like distension of abdomen. After pappy stool relief, and after disagreeable feeling of burning and shooting about heartfelt quite well. That night quiet sleep. 27th. – 1/2 hour after breakfast 40 drops in water at once Immediately drawing in right side of nape; feeling of pressure on instep of right foot; as if something lay before right ear; pressure in fauces. IN forenoon frequent fine stitches, aching and stoppage in left ear, as in catarrh. Some of the symptoms, as those of the ear, the throat pain, the flush of heat, the shooting drawing pains in left temple, etc., occur when entering the room, and go off when walking in open air. At noon nauseous taste at root of tongue, that goes off while eating and comes back thereafter; empty eructation; some pressure in stomach and fauces, with slight burning and flow of saliva. Afternoon, great discharge of flatus, at night horrible dreams. Next day, 28th, several recurrences of the disgusting taste; in mouth and repeated sexual excitement. 29th. – Well. 1st March. – At 11 a.m., 50 drops in water. Only a few transient symptoms occurred: weariness of legs pressure in left eyeball and right orbital region; burning in fauces, pressure in stomach; griping in upper part of abdomen with distension of abdomen; somewhat increased transpiration with general warmth. Afternoon, uncommon feeling of comfort in whole body. (Ibid.)

9. Mrs. GERSTEL, age. 30, nervous constitution, sanguine temperament, always well except occasional periodic prosopalgia, nursing a baby 9 morning old. a 10th February a.m., 500 3 drops of tinct. in water. After 1 hour heat in palms and face, with redness of both cheeks and feeling as if face increased in size; frequent yawning; at noon, little appetite. After a short siesta in afternoon very pale face with icy coldness of hands. At 5 p.m. coldness over back and legs. At 7 p.m. face and hands warm again; pulse 68; heaviness in forehead and parietal bones; noise is intolerable; coldness over limbs; a momentary drawing along thighs, with long-continued discomfort in knees, especially left, as after long stooping. All afternoon discomfort, as from deranged stomach; empty eructations; very little appetite even in evening 11th, at 10 a.m., 3 drops. Sleep stupefied, confused dreams; can hardly waken properly. 12th. – In morning head dazed; at noon some cold feeling in hands and feet; afternoon, hat in head, cheeks, and hands; variable temperature later; appetite good.

9 b. In April, the baby being weaned and the menses having occurred, took 20 drops of tinct. in water. No symptoms immediately. After several days there appeared on face, forehead, nape and other parts discrete itching vesicles, the size of a pin’s head, coming out for a fortnight, repeatedly desiccating, scaling off, and then disappearing. (Ibid.)

10 a. Dr. MASCHAUER, on 28th and 29th February, 1 hour before breakfast, took each day 5 drops of tinct; no symptoms.1st, 2nd, and 3rd March, each days 10 drops; each day for 6 or 7 hours continued confusion of head; shivering all over body; the 1st day only once, the other days he was so cold he could not get warm at the fire; nights restless. 4th, fasting, 15th drops; in half an hour, while sitting quietly, suddenly violent palpitation with tight feeling in chest; felt as if boiling water was poured into the chest, immediately afterwards icy coldness through him, he felt like to faint; this lasted 5 morning. During days frequently recurring shivering with violent headache in right temple; night sleepless 5th. – Very weak and prostrated, but took in morning 15 drops; after 2 hours palpitation of heart lasting all days, worse when walking, better when at rest. At 5 p.m. headache, increasing till 8 p.m. to a violent pressure in both parietal regions, disturbing sleep, and lasting all 6th; continued shivering; felt very weak and ill; evening and night somewhat better. 7th. – 15 drops; all days increased thirst, prostration, heat and chilliness; in evening pressive headache in vertex, pulse full, 80 to 90; night restless, broken by frightful dreams. 8th and 9th, no medicine; headache continued; slight stitches dart through chest; a disagreeable scraping in throat excites dry cough; cold and heat alternately all days; prostration, frequent walking at night 10th and 11th. Each days 20 drops; dry short cough both days; dry heat throughout body. 10th, at night much thirst, restless, chilliness, and heat till morning; bitter taste all days in mouth and scraping in throat; cough and great weakness troubled him 13th and 14th. 14th morning and evening, 10 drops; all days dry heat and weakness in evening rigor and headache lasting till midnight, quiet sleep, cough abated. 15th and 16th. – Each day in morning, fasting, 20 drops; both days bitter taste with burning in mouth, oppression of chest as if a great weight lay on it; first night restless; next day great weakness and chilliness; in evening pain in vertex till midnight, then quiet sleep. 17th, morning and evening 15 drops; during day only weak, but in evening oppression of chest, dyspnoea dry short cough, much thirst with chilliness; at night pressive pain in vertex, very restless; next day very weak, head confused. Cough went off on 18th.

10b. 12th April. – 1 hour after breakfast 40 drops; and 13th 50 drops. The first day the pepper taste: afternoon, paralytic drawing in legs, heaviness of head and drowsiness; next day eructation of air, feeling as if stomach were alternately distended and fallen in, the rise and fall could be distinctly felt with the hand; very anxious; heart’s beats could be distinctly felt, and were in quick succession, pulse slow, almost intermittent; this lasted 3 morning, then he must quickly sit down as he was unable to stand longer; all days great exhaustion, in evening headache in vertex lasting till midnight. 14th. -50 drops; less exhausted in open air, constant drowsiness in room, he might read, write, talk, no matter, there came on irresistible sleep from which he could not rouse himself without great effort; thoughts distracted; the time since yesterday seemed to be very far distant, and he must think for some seconds before he could remember what he had done; after a meal sudden vertigo, so that he must support himself and sit down; night restless; all next day exhaustion, in evening for 2 hours great confusion of head. 16th, morning 60 drops; all days long headache and painful stitches in left upper half of thorax, especially on inspiration, dyspnoea, feeling as if a catarrh were commencing, frequent sneezing, with stitches in chest, irresistible drowsiness, even when walking, at night anxious dreams, on walking great exhaustion. 17th. – 60 drops; catarrhal feeling as yesterday, dyspnoea, ameliorated by coughing; frequent stitches in left side of chest, much sleep by days and night, distraction, headache in crown occasionally, increased in evening, relieved for a short time by cold washing of face and head. Throughout next day constant disagreeable restlessness, wanted sometimes to sit, sometimes to stand, sometimes walk, does not know what ails him; thoughts distracted, what he wishes to do one moment he forgets the next; night sleep restless. 19th, morning, 40 drops, after 1 hour again 40 drops; taste of pepper in mouth, especially on tip of tongue, then plainly felt palpitation of heart, heat throughout body, feeling of anxiety, relief after drinking water; anxiety soon returns, feels as if some great misfortune would fall him; vertigo, even to make him fall; cough with stitches in chest, pulse full, quick. Afternoon, better, but very weak. E., headache. N. quiet. 20th. – 80 drops taken in two doses; burning on tongue, empty eructations all days, distension of stomach, which is sensitive to touch; headache in crown, as from pressure of a heavy weight, only going off in evening of next day; after eating sudden vertigo, must catch hold of something to support himself; periodical stitches through chest, accompanied by dry short cough; exhausted feeling; at night constant restlessness, alternate cold and heat. Next day, besides headache, catarrhal feeling and oppression of chest, with some cough and exhaustion. In night between 22nd and 23rd slept well, and had no further symptoms. (Ibid.)

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

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.