Introduction
Aletris farinosa, L. Star-grass. Nat. Ord., Hamadoraceae.
Provings
1. MAN. Took, Nov. 3rd, 10 drops of 1x at 2:30 p.m., and 25 drops at 4. At 4:30 slight nausea with pressure in forehead; nausea increased till 6, when a meal relieved it for 1 hours, it then returned and lasted all evening, sight or thought of grease causing him to gag. At 7:30 took 40 drops, and at 8 next m. 50 drops. Five m. after latter felt weight at occiput, as if it would draw head backwards, neck not having strength to prevent it; at same time feeling as if scalp there were contracting from side to side. All passed off while breakfasting 30 m. later. At 11:30 took 65 drops, 75 at 3, and 85 at 4. Stool was harder and more difficult than usual; and soon after last dose there was slight pain in occiput and nucha for 20 m. Nov. 5. – At 9 a.m. took 40 drops of tinct. Stool as yesterday. At 10, dull, heavy headache is different regions, continuing all day, and increasing after every dose. At 2 and 3:30 took 75 drops. No new symptoms, but headache much worse. (Dr. J. W. KING, Amer. Homoeopathist, March, 1885.)
2. WOMAN. Nov. 3rd, at 2:30 p.m., took 11 drops of 1z. At 3:20 sensation as if back would break just above waist. At 4 took 20 drops. At 5:10 same pain, a little higher up; at 7 a sharp pain ran from angle of left scapula through to left breast. At 7:30 took 50 drops. At 8:10 feeling as if eyelids were being pressed downwards, she could hardly raise them. Nov. 4. – At 8:30 a.m. took 50 drops. Just before dose, slight pain in occiput; and immediately afterwards great weight there. At 11:30 took 65 drops, with same result. At 3 took 75 drops, and felt pressure in forehead over eyes and queer sensation behind ears. At 4 took 85 drops. At 4:30 heaviness in occiput, forehead feels as in a vice, with dull pain running from right temple over eye into eyeball. Soon after dinner, dull aching in hypogastrium and across back of hips. No stool since taking drug till 8 this evening, then hard, scanty and difficult, followed by urinary tenesmus for 1/2 hours (usually has two or three stools daily). Nov. 5. – At 9 a.m., 30 drops of tinct. In 30 m. occipital heaviness, feeling as if temples were pressed together, with occasional twinge of pain in right temple. Took 45 drops at 12:30, and 75 at 2 and 3:30. Soon after last ache in back of head and pressure over eyes, with sense of uneasiness for a few m. only. Urination rare while taking drug. (Ibid.)
3. MAN. Dec. 29. – At 8 a.m. took 35 drops of tinct., and at noon 40 drops. 30th. – 48 oz. of urine passed during last 24 hours, sp. gr. 1025. Took 40 drops in m., 30 at noon. 31st. – Took 30 drops at m. and noon. At 6 p.m. bowels moved for first time since taking drug, stool hard, scanty and difficult. At afternoon felt pain first time since taking drug, stool hard, scant and difficult. All afternoon felt pain in right side of throat, and at 5 in left side close up under jaw, with thirst. Dr. King examined with laryngoscope and found hyperaemia of mucous membrane of both pharynx and larynx. Appetite entirely gone, has to force himself to eat. All afternoon tired and relaxed, with dull, heavy, confused feeling in head; cannot concentrate mind for study. Jan. 1. – Urine of last 24 hours amounts to 22 oz., sp. gr. 1022. At 8:30 a.m. took 30 drops. At 9:30 stool as before. 2nd. – Very restless during past night; urine of 24 hours 48 oz., sp. gr. 1020. At 2:30 p.m., 30 drops. Soon after pain in left occiput just behind ear, for about 2 hours; some short lasting pain also in throat. Frequent attempts at stool, but abortive until 10.39 p.m. 3rd. – Urine 40 oz., sp. gr. 1030. At 9 a.m., 60 drops. Almost immediately strange feeling all through head, gradually settling down to dull pain in occiput, which passed off in 10 m. 4th. – Urine 48 oz., sp. gr. 1022. Took 50 drops at 8:30 a.m. At 10, stool as before. 5th. – Urine 40 oz., sp. gr. 1022. At 9:45 a.m., 65 drops. tool rather easier. Took 60 drops at 2:30 and 4:30, and 65 at 6 p.m. Soon after last dose pain in centre of nucha, running off into left shoulder, continuing there 30 m. Pain in neck then moved up into occiput, where it continued all evening, till he fell asleep. At 7:30 intermittent pain in right ant. pillar of fauces, like electric shocks, slow but strong, aggravated by any movement of head putting muscles on stretch. Inspection showed hyperaemia as before. For last 3 days has had soreness inside tip of nose. 6th. – Urine 42 oz., sp. gr. 1030. At 9 a.m., 65 drops. Stool thin and diarrhoeic, with hard lumps in it. After three doses of 60 drops each griping in abdomen for 1 h. Took 60 drops more in e. All day headache on vertex, much aggravated by bending forwards. Nose less sore. 7th. – Urine 40 oz., sp. gr. 1024. Two doses of 60 drops to-day. Headache continued aggravated by difficult stool. Nose nearly well. 8th. – Urine 44 oz., sp. gr. 1022. Stool hard, but expulsion easy. Vertex headache as before. 9th. – Stool to- day natural for first time since taking drug. Throughout proving, and up to 15th, lay awake till 12 or 1, sleep then restless till late in morning, when it became calm.[ This prover had suffered for years from pain after stool, beginning in 1-2 hours, and lasting 3-4 hours. After beginning to take drug he had no pain, nor had any occurred when he reported on Jan. 21st.] (Ibid.) 4. WOMAN. Jan. 1st. – 80 drops of tinct. and. – Urine 54 oz., sp. gr. 1022. Took 80 drops. 3rd. – Urine 50 oz., sp. gr. 1022. At 9:30 a.m., 60 drops. At 4:25 p.m., pain commenced at pubes, ran down left labium and then shot upwards, diverging to 1., coming out near umbilicus. Pain was as of a knife-thrust; last 1 m. only. (When commencing to prove drug, a profuse yellow and mal-odorous leucorrhoea was present, having existed for years, and increased during last two months; on 2nd day discharge was much less, and on 3rd almost imperceptible.) 4th. – Urine 64 oz., sp. gr. 1020; phosphates slightly increased. Took 60 drops. 5th. – Took 65, 60, and 60 drops between 9 and 4. At 4:30 heaviness on vertex and in forehead over eyes. Much flatulence after food (quite unusual) to-day and yesterday. In evening 65 and 60 drops between 6 and 8. Between 8:30 and 9:30 several paroxysms of pain, tearing or cutting, in hypogastrium and right thigh, lasting 2 – 5 m., once so sudden and severe as to make her cry out. 6th. – On rising deathly “gone” feeling in stomach. Urine 64 oz., sp. gr. 1020. Took five doses of 65 or 60 drops each during d. Ever since taking drug has had profuse watery discharge from nose, without other indications of coryza. At 2:30 compressive pain in temples; at 4 sharp pain in right shoulder, running down arm and chest to above nipple, lasting 10 m.; at 4:15 dull pain in vertex and great weight in occiput; at 4:30 pain behind right ear running down sterno-mastoid. At 5:40 severe cramp-like pain in each groin, lasting 5 m., accompanied with feeling that she must hurry to closet, but stool was perfectly natural; for 40 m. dull aching in groins occasionally running down thighs, and most intense in knee-joints. In 10 m. after last dose (7 p.m.) sharp pain in groins, continuing all e. All afternoon and evening abdomen as if filled with wind, moving from place to place, and causing pain, which is relieved by passing it. Soreness felt inside nose for 2 day, right side worst. On inspection a small crack was found inside right nostril. 7th – Sleep greatly disturbed by troubled dreams. “Gone” feeling again on rising, relieved by food. Urine 64 oz., sp. gr. 1020. Took 60 drops at 1030 a.m. At 11 dull pain over right eye, running into ball, relieved by closing eye, at same time nausea and dull pain in lower abdomen; at 11:30 pain as of a knife-stab in left breast for 2 m. Since and day of proving there has been an eruption across chest and upper back, itching intolerably; relief from rubbing, but aggravation from scratching with nails. It appeared a simple papillary rash with much hyperaemia (and hyperaesthesia) of surrounding integument. 11th. – Every m. since discontinuing drug has had headache, with “gone” felling at stomach relieved by food. Until 12th (since 7th) unable to sleep till late, then terrible dreams on falling asleep, wakening her, until late in m. On 25th catamenia, scanty, but more painless than for years past. [ The hypogastric symptoms of this prover were familiar to her during her catamenia] (Ibid.) 5. MAN proved fluid extract. On Jan. 13th took 60 drops; on 14th, 60 drops at 8:30 a.m., and 65 drops at 11:30 At 11:45 sharp lancinating pain in right eyeball, lasting about 10 m. At 12:30 took zj: about 5 m. later cramps all through abdomen, continuing some 30 m. At 4 took zj: soon after pain all through abdomen, settling down into hypogastrium, relieved temporarily by passing flatus, permanently by scanty loose stool at 6:30 At 7:30 again zj; and in 10 m. same pains, aggravated by bending forwards, relieved by bending backwards; in 10 m. more whole intestines seemed sunk down into hypogastrium and being cut by knives. After 20 m. scanty loose stool relieved pain. 15th. – 26 oz. of urine passed during last 24 hours, sp. gr. 1026. At 9 a.m. took zj. In forenoon mind confused and wandering, much effort required to concentrate thoughts. Pain since rising till 3:30 p.m. in abdomen, chiefly hypogastrium, by spells, at last relieved by very scanty loose stool, with and after which was much tenesmus and feeling as if anus was closed. 16th. – Yesterday and to-day nose sore just inside tip to 1. Since taking drug faeces and flatus highly offensive. For last three nights could not sleep till very late, and then sleep was restless till late in morning This continued, with desultoriness of thoughts, till 22nd. (Ibid.) 6. WOMAN proved same. On Jan. 13th, 2 p.m., took 60 drops. At 2:35 heavy weight in occiput, with dull pain over eyes and through temples. At 9:30 felt as if about to faint, with nausea. 14th, 9 a.m., 60 drops. At noon fore part of head felt as if in vice. At 12:30 took 60 drops, with same result. At 2 took zj. At 2:45, pain running in 1 m. from back of ear down sterno-mastoid, leaving it sore to touch. At 4 took zj. At 7 sharp pain for 1 m. in left breast, then through into back near angle of right scapula. At 7:30 again zj. At 8.5 returning of food eaten at 5:50, with burning in throat. At 9:30 pain from ant. sup. spinous process of ilium to pubes, with feeling as if diarrhoea would come on, which did not occur. 15th. – At 4 a.m. same pain for 5 m., then aching down legs to feet, and up back, finally settling across back of hips; felt there on rising at 7:45, when she felt very tired, and had also pain and heaviness in occiput, with sharp pain down right trapezius, aggravated by bending forward, and vice versa. All passed off, save headache, at 8. Passed 43 oz. of urine in 24 hours, sp. gr. 1020. At 9 took zj. All that n. pain running down thighs, worse in knees, causing her to toss about in bed and preventing sleep. On rising pain ran as before from ilium to pubes (she has this at periods). In afternoon, when sitting, annoying pin in knees. Since taking drug nights, especially fore part, have been very restless. A dull, heavy bearing down in hypogastrium all this day. On 17th courses came, painlessly for first time in life; they were true to time, but scarcely half their usual quantity. (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.