89 b. No. 2, man of 72, muscular but stout, of gouty and rheumatic diathesis. Stools normal. In contrast with A, he passed urine but twice a day, in m. and evening, in spite of the fact that he drank nearly 4 litres of water and wine a day. The taste of the Bourboule water excited no particular attention in his mind, but on the 4th day he felt his appetite much increased. He walked with greater ease, breathed more freely and deeply, and felt improved in health in every way. On 6th day the stools had become somewhat softer, and micturition somewhat more frequent. His sleep became more sound and refreshing. He was delighted with the effect of the water, and continued it for some time. On leaving it off felt feeble and depressed, and digested and urinated with difficulty, so that he returned to the waters again. 89 c. No. 3, also aet. 72, robust, with rheumatic history. On 4th day, without premonitory symptoms, suffered from diarrhoea and diuresis, n. and d. Appetite was increased, but this did not compensate for the inconvenience noted. Desisted from drinking the water.
89 d. The remaining patients were all women. D., aet. 26, married, subject to haemorrhoids. E., aet. 26, lymphatic temperament and nervous. F., aet. 22, sanguine temperament. G., aet. 25, rachitic history, 4 mos. pregnant. H., aet. 21, lymphatic, health good. With the exception of hours, all suffered from habitual constipation. D. and evening had increase of thirst and appetite; stools occurred daily. These two effects lasted more than a month after the experiment, which was continued 6 day, and was stopped on account of troublesome diuresis. Other symptoms were slight.
F. had same symptoms, but on 10th day, at middle of intermenstrual period, suffered from free and burning leucorrhoea. Discharge was colourless, viscid, staining linen grey and stiffening it. The water was tried for 2 day longer, and on stopping it, the leucorrhoea, very unusual with her, quickly ceased.
G. – On 2nd day, disappearance of morning sickness, which did not recur. The action of the bowels became regular and more frequent. Continued the waters for a week. (The morning vomiting had occurred in the morning while fasting, or after a cup of coffee, and consisted of mucus and ingesta of the preceding d. It was accompanied by slight pyrosis, but aroused no strong movements of expulsion.)
H. took small amounts of the water for 15 day, but with absolutely negative results. (Bull. de la Soc. Medorrhinum Hom. de France, xxii, 469.)
III. 17. The following conclusions, restricted to the production of paralysis in cases of poisoning by A., are cited from the inaugural dissertation of Dr. Conrad Alexander at Breslau.
17 a. The symptoms of arsenical poisoning in man point to the fact that they are attributable to the action of this drug on the peripheral nerves and muscles, and are due to the production of multiple neuritis.
17 b. In certain instances it is possible in rabbits to produce permanent paralysis by A., in the posterior limbs especially, and accompanied by a high degree of muscular atrophy.
17 c. In paralysed animals, degenerated and atrophied nerve – fibres are to be found in the small muscular nerve branches, and in the nerves of the subcutaneous connective tissue, accompanied by haemorrhage into and swelling of the perineurium. The spinal cord of such animals is perfectly normal.
17 d. Experimental observations seem to warrant the assumption that arsenical paralysis in man is similarly produced.
17 e. The muscular atrophy produced in animals poisoned by A, is not of neurotic origin, but is entirely independent of the nervous system.
17 f. This muscular atrophy is in the case of rabbits not a fatty degeneration but a coagulative necrosis, generally accompanied by the formation of calcareous deposits.
17 g. Degeneration of nerves and muscles is, in all cases of paralysis occurring in animals poisoned with A., probably due to the production of disturbed action in the capillaries of the nerves and muscles. (Monthly Hom. Rev., xxxiv, 370.
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.