Acidum fluoricum [Fl-ac]
In I. 6, l. 4, the “pain about r. wrist and finger-joints” occurred 1 h. instead of 3 h. after dose. After II. 1, insert “III. Experiments on animals.-1. M. Maumene gave, for a period of 5 months, fluoride of potassium to a dog, at end of which time a swelling similar to goitre appeared in the neck. The dog then made its escape, but 3 years later was again discovered with a swelling which appeared to M. Maumene to have all the characters of goitre. (Medorrhinum Times and Gaz., May 5, 1866.)”
Laurocerasus.-Dr. PEIRO, on two occasions, found tinct. given for bronchial catarrh to young married men cause temporary impotence. (Medorrhinum Call. March, 1883.)
Acidum lacticum [Lac-ac]
In I. 3, l. 6, after “produced” add “-also profuse secretion of tenacious mucus, which must be constantly hawked up.”
Acidum nitricum [Nit-ac]
After I. 3, insert “A lady, making experiments with a galvanic, battery, was exposed for some time to the fumes of N. ac. At once she taken with a peculiar anguish, runs to her physician, but, as he is not at home, hires a carriage to drive to the house where she expects to find him. During her ride all the anguish is gone. Arrived at home, she feels as bad as ever; and feels herself thus forced to drive about the whole d., till all the effects of the acid have passed off. (HENDRICKS, Am. Fourn. of Hom. Mat. Medorrhinum, iii. 120.)”
Acidum sulphuricum [Sul-ac]
The following are some of the case of poisoning referred to in II. 1. b. 2. a. A shoemaker’s apprentice, aet. 16, swallowed in m. some sulph. ac.; he was at once taken into hospital and died collapsed at 6 p.m. Urine passed at 2 p.m. was of bloody brownish-red colour, turbid, acid reaction, sp. gr. 1028, contained much abdomen. In urine very few blood-corpuscles, but a large amorphous mass of yellowish-red colour. P.M. -Abdominal walls much distended. A large quantity of clear blood-coloured fluid in both pleural sacs and pericardium. In heart much dark greasy coagulated blood, which had but few intact blood- corpuscles. Vesical m.m. pale, turbid blackish-brown urine with numerous flakes. Kidneys showed nothing to the eye, were not examined microscopically. Great swelling of follicles of root of tongue and m.m of fauces. M.m. of oesophagus rather dry, of brownish colour. Stomach much distended. Contents viscid greasy mass. In fundus m.m. quite destroyed, the muscular coat laid bare. In pylorus m.m. pretty well preserved. In duodenum m.m. black coloured, very friable-jejunum more normal.
2 b. A smith, aet, 25, drank some sulph ac. about 11 a.m. and was soon after taken to hospital. Complained of violent pains in stomach. Constant retching and vomiting of black bloody masses. When he swallowed magnesia he always coughed. He got opium and slept some h. He had stridor of respiration increased by pressure on larynx. The pains increased, collapse came on and he died on the e. of the next d. The urine soon after he came in was clear yellow, acid, and contained no albumen. That passed in the e. of the first d. was reddish yellow, turbid, had a great reddish sediment, acid, sp. gr. 1025, contained much albumen and hyaline and granular cylinders, and a large quantity of cellular elements and blood-corpuscles. The urine drawn off at noon next d. was clear yellow, had less albumen. P.M.-Bloody serum in pericardium. Blood in heart coagulated. Nothing observable in lungs. In buccal cavity and palate the epithelium was covered with a thin black layer and was readily detached. In fauces, m.m. partially destroyed, epiglottis and ligam. aryepiglottica much swelled, brittle, oedematous, epithelium readily detached. Oesophagus very contracted, m.m. very swollen, red, its m.m. on posterior wall readily detached. In abdominal cavity some bloody fluid. intestines much distended with gas; partly grey, partly red. Spleen moderately large, soft. Kidneys pale, the incision shows a slight yellow colour. In stomach brownish-black fluid, the like in duodenum and jejunum. The walls of these parts very hard, the funds ventriculi soft. The inside of stomach in its whole extent occupied by broad, high, black swellings, greatest in big curvature. The black colour extends deep into m.m. Its serous membrane injected. M.m. of duodenum and beginning of jejunum very soft, blackish, swollen. Bladder empty. Some of the uriniferous tubules are distended and filled with cellular contents. Some of them show fatty degeneration. the glomeruli are large, full of nuclei. The interstices between the tubules are abnormally wide and contain more granules than normal. Fat globules among the nuclei. (LEYDEN and MUNK, Virchow’s Archiv, xxii, 237.)
3. a. A servant-girl, aet. 16, drank on Oct. 20th, at 11.30 a.m. a good mouthful of dilute sulph. ac. (1 to 5) on an empty stomach. Immediately a constant violent burning in mouth and along oesophagus to stomach. On drinking water she vomited at first dark yellow, then black stuff. Four h. after swallowing the acid she was admitted to the hospital. Countenance red and distorted with pain. Tongue-tip deprived of epithelium, is bright red, with partial thick white fur. The m.m. of palate and pharynx swollen, very red, with white spots and stripes and some small flat ulcers. Dysphagia, which is attended by great pain. Epigastric pains on pressure. Magnesia, leeches to larynx, and almond emulsions were employed. On 23rd the pain and difficulty of swallowing had so much increased that nothing but ice-cold water could be taken, which was grateful owing to the burning thirst. Everything else as soon as it passed the pharynx was immediately rejected. Profuse secretion of saliva often mixed with blood. The inflammation of the m.m. extended to larynx, which was tender to touch. On the 26th some food got into stomach, but was immediately vomited along with some blood. Acute pains came on in the region of the r. lower ribs. They came in paroxysms, especially at n. and were excited by deep inspiration. The painful points of Valleix below the 6th and 10th ribs were very well marked. These symptoms recurred repeatedly on the following d. They declined with the amelioration of the pains in pharynx. Obstinate constipation during the whole rime, (FRERICHS, Wien. Medorrhinum Wochensch., 1862, No. 35.)
3. A servant-girl, at 24, May 31st, at noon, swallowed a mouthful of sulph, ac, Immediately fainted. On coming to in 10 m. she vomited black stuff several times. Brought to hospital at 2.30 p.m. She got soap water, magnesia and ice pills. At 5 p.m. cheeks red, slightly moist, expression anxious, and features distorted. From r. commissure of lips downwards is a parchment- like strip where the epidermis is coloured brown, lips swollen and painful when touched. All buccal cavity and tongue covered with white layer. Swallowing difficult and very painful, a pain from mouth down to stomach. Speech difficult, pain in larynx increased by speaking and pressure. Much brownish mucus ejected from mouth, resp, rapid, and rattling. Abdomen distended, epigastrium tense and painful to touch. Spleen somewhat enlarged. Urine acid, sp. gr. 1038, contains a little albumen. -1st June. Vomited once. Every attempt to swallow anything resulted in its regurgitation. Got glycerine and bitter almond emulsion. When the slough came away there occurred bloody mucus and saliva. Difficult respiration caused by swelling of m.m. of larynx. Couching caused great pain in larynx, threatening of suffocation.-3rd. Paroxysmal stitches in lowest ribs on both side, painful neuralgia of intercostal nerves, spreading next d. to lumbar nerves. Hyperaesthesia of skin, which was always present at the seat of the neuralgia even when no paroxysm was on, extended first to extremities, then over whole body and even face; the slightest touch caused loud complaints, no case could be had n any position. Morphia was injected hypodermically; this brought refreshing sleep. next d. complained of pain in the organs touched by the acid and of nervous symptoms. On the 4th d. the swallowing was improved. Patient could eat and drink very little. At beginning of 2nd week appetite returned, though the pains in stomach continued. Patient much emaciated. Food caused bilious vomiting. no vomiting at end of 3rd week, but appetite still worse. M.m. of mouth quite headed, palate and pharynx still red and painful to touch, hoarseness continued. At beginning of 4th week patient seemed to be recovering, but on 2nd d. of week the most violent pains in stomach came on with copious vomiting, the vomited matter mixed with coagulated black blood. This lasted 2 d., and the stools also were coloured black with blood. When the vomiting declined the patient felt nausea and had acid eructation. She had also fits of cardialgia of 1 m. duration, and dyspnoea causing anxiety. Then came on photophobia, roaring in ears, vertigo, once syncope. Emaciation went on, the skin was dry and scaly, the face quite colourless, speech hoarse and hollow. almost incomprehensible. Pulse thread-like, abdomen retracted. The patient could not retain any kind of food. Nutritious clysters were given, but did not seem to be absorbed. The urine contained no chlorides, the stools, which occurred every 2 or 3 d. were large and devoid of bile, they also contained a little blood. There was great tenesmus. After several attacks of syncope the patient died on July 27th, 57 d. after taking the poison. The urine on the 9th d. contained albumen and some casts. the quantity of urine gradually diminished, but its sp. gr. increased; every trace of chlorides disappeared during the last days. -P.M. Heart small, contracted, but little blood in it; muscular structure of heart pale, partial fatty degeneration. Oesophagus somewhat contracted behind cricoid cartilage and just above stomach, the m.m. there replaced by cicatricial tissue. Stomach and intestines very contracted, some blackish fluid in stomach. In the cardia some cicatrices, which extend in stripes along reddened m.m. of posterior wall of stomach. In the small curvature a continuous cicatrix to pylorus, which is so contracted that it will scarcely admit a blade of the scissors, the walls of stomach very hypertrophied; a portion of the duodenum is involved in the cicatrix. The remainder of duodenum is much congested. Close to valve of ileum a large Peyerian plaque with swollen follicles. Sigmoid flexure congested. Spleen hard, dark blue, small. In posterior wall of larynx cicatricial streaks. Kidneys large, rather congested, its canaliculi contain granules and fat corpuscles. (Ibid., No. 36.)
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.