14. A tailor, aet. 24, affected with anasarca of legs, hypertrophy of heart, and insufficiency of mitral valve, came under treatment Sept. 6th, and up to Oct 19th he had taken Digitalis in powder 42 gr. and 3iij gr. iv in infusion. The toxic symptoms after this quantity were but slight; confusion of head, loss of appetite, and an inclination to vomit, the pulse sank to 40 and became intermittent. These symptoms soon went off when the medicine was discontinued. On Oct. 25th violent symptoms of poisoning presented themselves, confusion of head, anorexia,
inclination to vomit, and colicky pains, vomiting of the medicine and of greenish-bitter fluid, pulse 40. On leaving off the medicine these symptoms went off in 24 h. By the end of October the anasarca was gone, but on Jan. 12th it returned in great intensity. Digitalis was again given. After taking 3j in infusion he had on 22nd confusion and heaviness and stupefaction of head, misty vision. the medicine was discontinued, but after 24 h. (Jan. 23rd) he was stupefied, answers questions at first shortly, then not at all, pupils not much dilated, breathing slow, heart’s sounds; the first seemed to pass into the second. Urging to stool and urine roused him for a little, but he again fell into the previous state. Pulse 50, intermittent. 24th. Lethargy, he lies unconscious, with hot head, eyes staring, immovable, glassy, all the organs of sense seemed in abeyance, sight, hearing, taste and smell were lost, skin insensible, the lower jaw could with difficulty be separated from the upper, respiration very slow, stool and urine suppressed. Tetanic stiffness of whole body and limbs, pulse 40, weak and intermitting. This state lasted 48 h. Patient slowly recovered consciousness, vision misty, confusion of head. These symptoms also went off, but he got pleurisy of l. side, for which he had antiphlogistic treatment, and recovered in 8 d. The dropsical symptoms returned, and he died Feb. 16th. (MELION, Vierteljahrsch. f. d. prakt. Heilk., Prag. v, 88.)
Euphorbia
III. 1. It is to Marssett (These de Paris, 1884) that we are indebted for a detailed study of Euphorbia pilulifera; he experimented with it on frogs, rabbits, &c., and, in doing so, employed the aqueous or hydro-alcoholic extract, dissolved in distilled water. The following are the physiological effects noted in batrachians, &c. : Cardiac and respiratory movements initially accelerated, then gradually showed. Respiratory
preceded cardiac arrest; death always occurred with the thorax in expiration, and the heart in diastole. The autopsies disclosed lesions comparable to those found after death by section of the vagi. The drug had no sensible effect on striped or unstriped muscular fibre, the brain, cord, sensitive or motor nerves, salivary, sudoral, urinary or intestinal secretions. The hepatic secretion was slightly augmented and the gall-bladder increased n volume. Pulmonary hyperaemia and emphysema was induced in some cases. The gastric mucous membrane was in a state of local congestion only in those animals which had swallowed the drug. That this hyperaemia was of local and not reflex origin is therefore beyond doubt, and the more so, since Vulpian has shown that the vaso-motor effect of the pneumogastric on the stomach is nil. Marssett concludes from the foregoing that the active principle of Euphorbia pilulifera expends itself on the respiratory and cardiac nerve-centres, initially as an excitant, afterward as a depressant; that it seems to be eliminated by the liver, and that gastric hyperaemia is a local phenomenon, (Phys. and Surg. Investigator, july 15th, 1885.)
After II. 1, insert the following:
2. Katherina P, a charwoman, had been subject to epileptic fits since puberty, which were removed by the expulsion of a large number of ascarides, took a quantity of the E. verrucosa at the recommendation of a female friend. She was suddenly attacked with griping in bowels, attended by vomiting and purging. The vomiting became so severe that she could not bear the slightest solid or liquid food. Next m. side she was better, but the vomiting continued and some blood was vomited, and soon afterwards she died. P.M. Eyes sunken, closed, dim, and expression of pain on face, m.m. of mouth and tongue pale, with a few vesicles on it, arms limp, legs stiff, nails blue, brown mucus exuded from anus. The sinuses of dura mater contained much blood and polypus-like coagula, under dura matter some serum, pia matter congested, some frothy serum between it and full of blood; in cerebral chambers a little bloody serum, the central plexuses studded with water-blisters, the pineal gland large and firm, the mucous glands black-red coloured, soft, at base of brain 1 oz. serum. Lungs showed old adhesions, the bronchial ramifications contained much mucus. heart small and flabby, its cavities and large blood-vessels filled with viscid blood. Liver full of blood, spleen small. M.m. of fauces red, studded with vesicles, oesophagus contracted, pale. Stomach filled with chocolate- coloured fluid, its inner surface red in patches, some parts blackish, many small groat-like vesicles in groups the size of a lentil, containing clear serum or air. Duodenum slightly reddened. Small intestines with parches of dark red colour, and containing two round-worms. Large intestine distended with air, covered with white, viscid cream-like fluid, containing one round-worm. Rectum red covered with brown mucus. (LIPPICH, Oesterr, med. Wochensch. xvi, pt. 4, 621; in Frank’s Mag., i, 742.)
3. A healthy woman, aet 66, had a lentil-sized wart at outer canthus of l. eye. for many years, which she rubbed with the juice of E. vulgaris, some of which got into eye. After 2 h. she felt tearing-shooting pain in wart, which spread over eyebrow and lids; both lids swelled, the upper lid hung down motionless, both hot. She of eye. After 18 h. the l. eye, eyebrow, and temporal region swollen, red and hot, not very painful to touch; the upper lid hung down over lower lid as far as lower border of orbit, was oedematous and immovable, lachrymation, shooting pain in its interior, frequent vision of sparks. On attempting to raise the lid hot tears gushed out; photophobia, the sclerotic covered with fine vessels, so that it appeared pale-rose-coloured and was swollen; cornea rather dim, pupils very small, drawn upwards, the internal vascular ring of iris dark brownish red, vision impeded by photophobia and tears. Constipation for 2 d., fever, pulse 86. Leeches to temples and inner canthus, milk compresses, blisters on nape, and a senna purge, followed by more leeches and blisters, calomel and collyria, were followed by amelioration in 4 d. On 5th d. could see again and she recovered perfectly. (CLAUDI, Oesterr. med. Wochensch, xxix, pt. 3,480; in Frank’s Mag., i, 743.)
Iodum. After I. 9, insert the following:
10. Dr. Lorentz, assistant physician at Militsch, publishes in the Deutsche med. Wochenschrift, No. 45, 1884, as a peculiar case of iodine poisoning the following proving, and I consider it proper to record, as a part of our materia medica, the symptoms which he observed after its external application on himself.
On May 16th, 1884, at 6.30 a.m. he painted 3 times in succession the back of the r. hand and arm with tinct. iodi, in a space as large as the palm of the hand, for an insignificant sprain. From 6.45 till 7.30 he kept in the open air; afterwards, while sitting in his room, he observed the sudden appearance of a violent coryza, with lachrymation and pressing pains in the eyes, soon followed by violent cough and tendency to vomit, together with difficult, almost wheezing, respiration, feeling as if the larynx was constricted externally, and great lachrymation. His feet now began rapidly to swell, so that he could no longer bear the pressure of well-fitting boots, and upon their removal he saw that the soles of the feet were considerably swollen, and walking was in consequence extremely painful. Slight feeling that his head was not right. After 1/2 h. the coryza, lachrymation, and cough had completely ceased. Temp. 37.3o C. Pulse and cardiac impulse now decreased in force. At 9 a.m. a slight fainting fit, which soon passed away. Heart-sounds very weak, but without any accompanying friction-sound or murmur. The apex-beat and pulse could not be felt. He had no longer complete control of the tongue, as was shown by stuttering and the production of sounds other than those intended. He also head slowly, so to say, as he required some time to get a clear understanding of what was said to him, in order to answer, as well as to give expression to the answer. He lay upon his bed, and when, feeling better, he left it to walk about the room, there was momentary vertigo, followed by complete loss of consciousness; on coming to, there were convulsive movements of the arms and legs, and the head was drawn backwards. After the motions had ceased he returned to bed, as on standing up once more he experienced the feeling of an approaching attack of vertigo. Coryza, cough, and lachrymation had disappeared completely, and there was a slight frontal headache and a violently itching iodine-exanthem. Temp. 37.2o C. Pulse could not be felt. Soon after profuse sweating came on, lasting for about 1/4 h., whereupon the itching and headache passed off and extreme weakness followed. Another fainting fit occurred, lasting 1 h. (the former one continued 45 m.) leaving a dull pain in the occiput. After taking some Hungarian wine the heart could be faintly heard and felt. At 4 p.m. the pulse was quite weak, and with long intermissions; at 6 p.m. it was 124 to the m., and at 8 p.m. 100. On the 2nd d. there was only weakness after a restless sleep. Slight attacks of vertigo on rising. Temperature normal. Pulse 76 to 80. The 3rd d. was passed out of bed. The exanthem had disappeared. On the 2 following d. during the m. on any quick change of place, and especially on quickly standing up from sitting, there occurred a momentary slight vertigo. On the afternoon of the 5th d. he was in his usual good health. (BUCHMANN, A.h.Z., cxi, No.4.)
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.