I think I may reasonably conclude that infinitesimal doses, on both man and animals, [ See III, 7.] produce pathogenetic effects, and that these pathological changes may be compared to spontaneously developed diseases. (Compte rendu du Congres Medorrhinum Hom. de. Bruxelles, 1856.) 10. Dr. JANKOVICH, of Ofen, on 14th July, 1841, took a dose of the following mixture every hour; Tartarised antimony, 12 gr. dissolved in 3 drachms of distilled water, of mucilage and opiate syrup each 1/2 oz. Dr. J. took 8 gr. of A. t. in 5 doses, or 1 1/2 gr. per hour, commencing at 11 a.m. Shortly after the first dose he suffered from giddiness and a feeling of illness; after the second a shivering all over, cold perspiration, nausea, and retching; after the third, a painful feeling in pit of stomach, with vomiting of much mucus and bile; uneasiness in bowels, but without pain or purging; excessive and constant perspiration; increased flow of saliva, and thirst, which he was compelled to satisfy by taking small quantities of cold water. He was so depressed and weak that he could not rise from his seat. The fourth dose was followed by increased illness, vomiting and purging. After the fifth such apathy and disgust that he felt quite ready to die. His repugnance to any more doses was such that he found it impossible to continue it. He took some broth, which however, he speedily vomited; this was followed by a further action on the bowels, nausea, perspiration, and great depression, lasting until night. He slept calmly, and the symptoms had disappeared next day (Medorrhinum Jahrb. des osterr. States, 1842, p. 49.) 11. Dr. WETZLER, of Augsburg, dissolved 12 grains of A. t. in 6 oz. of water, and took a tablespoonful (1 grain) every hour from 5 a.m. till 3 p.m. The pulse was slightly increased. In 1 1/2 hours there was nausea with vomiting of a mucous fluid, but his ceased and did not return; there was then abundant perspiration for 12 m. The tongue was dry and brownish yellow. In 5 hours there was intense thirst. In 7 hours complete loss of appetite, fullness of head, heat of forehead, great depression, and a feeling of general illness. At 3 p.m. could take no more antimonial mixture. In a few day he recovered. A fortnight afterwards he repeated the experiment with like results, except that, from a feeling of the greatest loathing, he could only take the antimonial solution for 7 hours. In 14 days more, he repeated the experiment again, and the solution was for taken 10 1/2 h. Violent vomiting followed, and on this occasion the illness was more severe. Dr. Wetzler felt he could not continue his experiments. (N. Jahrb. d. teutsch. M. u. Ch., xii, 1.) 12. To a strong young man I gave tart. em. in 1/2 gr. doses every 10 minutes for nearly 7 hours, inducing great nausea and vomiting, with profuse perspiration; but during the whole time his temperature remained remarkably constant, varying not more than 0.4 Fahr. (RINGER, op. cit.) 13. Dr. SHARP took a drop of Ist dil. in 3j of water, pulse being 72, and resp. 18. During next hours pulse varied from 66 to 74; but breathing, rising at 4th morning to 20, fell through next 24 m. to 10, when it consisted of deep uncomfortable sighings. During 14 morning more it continued to fall until it became only 6 in the morning: it then rose, and by end of hours was 18 as at first. (Essays on Medicine, p. 726.) 14. ACKERMANN selected three healthy young men, aged 21-23, and made 3 sets of experiments on each, with 6 days intervening. On day before each experiment, subject was kept on regulated diet; on day itself nothing was taken save cup of coffee in morning Subject was weighed after bowels and bladder had been emptied, and then went to bed and remained tranquilly in it for 9 h. Every 5 minutes pulse and resp. were counted, and temp. of mouth and hands determined. After remaining in bed 1 hours, a certain quantity of tart. em. was given, usually 4 grms.; and this dose, doubled or halved according to its slight or severe effect, was repeated. In 1 hours after drug had been taken bladder was emptied, and from this time urine was considered to be under the medicinal influence. The following were the results:
14 a. Pulse. -For a variable time, according to the individual or dose (length of time being inversely as the dose), no effect was produced. Then commenced acceleration of the pulse; and at the same time, or a few minutes after, nausea was perceived. These two symptoms increased together, the former reaching its maximum with vomiting, then declining slightly, then remaining stationary for a time, and afterwards undergoing changes. The quickening of the pulse could be taken as the measure of the nausea, varying in amount with it, before vomiting came on. Amount of nausea and rapidity of pulse rose as the dose of A. t. was increased. The mean maximum of the rise (in three men) was 42 per m. Never during the nausea did the pulse, even after vomiting, sink to the normal standard. The pulse was weaker as well as quicker, that is, the wave of blood was smaller as felt by the finger. A diminution in the strength and extent of the heart’s impulse was felt at the same time. The frequency and strength of the pulse were therefore in an inverse ratio. When the nausea ceased the pulse fell somewhat, but still remained frequent for a time, then increased again, and then finally declined. The second was never equal to the primary rise, it was greater and earlier in proportion to the dose. The size of the pulse was greater than in the primary rise, and the heart’s action was increased. A fall in the pulse ratio to below normal was never seen by Ackermann during first 8 hours after a small or medium dose of A. t. The weakness of the pulse, left evening diminution of lateral pressure, was proved by Lenz by hemodynamometric researches. The frequency of the pulse was referred to a weakened or paralytic condition of the vagus.
14 b. Temperature. -From 5 to 30 m. after quickening of pulse and nausea the temperature of the hand diminished. It bore a relation to the rapidity of pulse and nausea, was in proportion to cyanosis of hands and face, and gave the patient a sensation of general coldness. It was in proportion to the dose of A. t. Cyanosis disappeared, and temperature of hand usually rose (even to above normal) after cessation of nausea and vomiting, and about the time of secondary rising of the pulse, when impulse of heart and size of pulse were alike increased. The temperature of the mouth was not lowered; it was either normal, or varied very slightly until the secondary rising of the pulse, when it increased about 1 F. on an average.
14 c. Respirations. -The respirations at first were quickened, lessened after the nausea was over to normal, and rose somewhat with secondary rising of the pulse.
14 d. Excretions and Secretions. -With the nausea there was increase in the saliva, which was greatest shortly before vomiting. It came mostly from the parotid, and caused frequent deglutition. Referred to irritation of glosso-pharyngeal nerve, the gustatory branches of the fifth or the vagus, or, probably, due to nervous and vascular paralysis. The total excretions of the body were augmented according to the dose. The “insensible perspiration” (skin and lungs) was increased by one half in some cases, in others doubled or more than doubled. These included clammy sweats on forehead during nausea, perspiration during vomiting, and increased pulmonary exhalation. The quantity of vomited matters depended on largeness of the dose. There was purging in some cases. The water of the urine was lessened, in proportion to the dose, and to the amount of the other excretions. The quantity of urea was increased on an average by 1/8th or even 1/4th, almost constantly in proportion to the dose. The quantity of chloride of sodium was less, especially when diarrhea occurred. Pigment and uric acid increased generally, and the amount of free acidity was variable.
14 e. Summing up of Ackermann’s results:
(1) Tartar emetic quickens the action of the heart, possibly by partially paralyzing the vagus.
(2) It weakens at first the force of the heart from an uncertain cause; subsequently, when its effects are passing off, the heart’s action augments in force.
(3) It produces at first general capillary and venous hyperemia, on account of the weakened heart, and afterwards general relaxation of the vessels, when the effects are passing off, and when the heart’s action increases.
(4) It causes increased action of the skin during the hyperemia (cold and clammy sweats) and during the after period of increased action (warm sweating)
(5) It lowers during the first period the temperature of extreme parts, and subsequently causes a moderate rise of temperature over the normal amount.
(6) It increases the number of respirations, and probably augments the pulmonary exhalations.
(7) It augments the gastric and intestinal secretions, producing vomiting and sometimes purging.
(8) It augments the flow of parotid secretion, whether from irritation (direct or reflected) or paralysis of the nerves is uncertain.
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.