APPENDIX 2


Proving Symptoms of homeopathy medicine Appendix, described by Richard Hughes in his book, A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesis, published in 1895….


Acidum Hydrocyanicum

After II. 12. insert the following: 13. Hydrocyanic acid, in doses of from 4 to 15 dr. at intervals per diem, and cyanide of potassium combined with carbonate of iron in doses of from 1/2 to 2 1/2 gr. per diem, caused in 83 patients affected with phthisis, epilepsy, hypertrophy of heart, dropsy, lumbago, and some epidemic malady not described:- in 28 cases heat in stomach, in 16 headache (1 only at night, in 1 the pain was over left eye), in 15 transient perspiration, in 12 itching and prickling in various parts, such as gastric region, limbs, tips of toes, whole body, chest, scrotum, neck; in 10 vertigo, in 10 long and profound sleep, in 9 nausea, in 9 colic, in 7 a kind of syncope, in 7 complete intoxication like that from alcohol, in 6 a kind of febrile rigor, followed by general hear; in 5 borborygmus, in 4 heat in oesophagus, in 4 anorexia, in 4 diarrhoea, in 4 pains in various parts, in 4 sleeplessness, in 4 sparks and flashes before eyes, in 4 roaring in ears, in 4 diuresis, in 3 partial heat, in 3 true rigor, 3 true rigor, in 3 dimness of vision, in 3 convulsions, in 2 coma or narcotism, in 2 delirium, in 2 numbness in arms and legs, in 2 increased appetite, in 2 vomiting, in 2 diarrhoea, in 2 flatulence; in 1 each the following symptoms: tinnitus aurium, stupefied expression, slow pulse, cough with expectoration, dryness of mouth, constipation (SANDRAS, Receveil Period. de la Soc. de Medorrhinum, cx, 289; in Frank’s Mag., iii, 344.)

14. A peasant, aet. 30, took 12 dr. immediately he fell unconscious to the ground. In few minutes he recovered his senses and complained of vertigo, rigor, trembling of limbs and vomiting. In 6 h. he went to his work. (ADELMANN, Harless’ rhein, Jarhb., i, Suppl., 282; in Frank’s Mag., iii, 5.)

15. A girl, aet. 17, who had never menstruated, after a fright had epileptic fits daily. After taking 4 dr. H. acid. 3 times in 1 d. she got feverish symptoms: considerable heat, thirst, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, pulse 120, great exhaustion; this lasted 14 d., during which she had no epileptic fits. After cessation of fever the fits returned. She then got again H. acid., at first in doses of 2 to 3 dr., but when she again got 4 d. she had hilarious delirium. Usually quiet and retiring, she danced and sang with a stick in her hand all about the room, and her pulse became quick. This lasted 3 d., when she became quiet and the pulse slow. (ERDMANN, Allg. med. Ann., xxiii, 1291; in Frank’s Mag., iv, 733.)

16. A girl, aet, 18, got, for a spasmodic cough which attacked her every winter, H. acid. Two dr. somewhat relieved cough; when she got 5 dr., after 4 doses she had colicky pains and loose bowels; next d. complete loss of appetite and such weakness that she had to keep he bed; pulse quick and uneven both in rhythm and strength; periodical headache, which returned next d. and lasted many hours; sleeplessness, all the muscles of the body were in trembling state (not a rigor), dyspnoea with quick small pulse. Placing the flat hand on the forehead and pit of stomach suppressed the attacks, but not for long; warm baths were more efficacious. These attacks lasted 9 d., with longer and shorter intervals. The cough was much benefited. (Ibid.)

17. A young woman, aet, 19, subject to indigestion, took by mistake 3/4 of a mixture containing 40 dr. Hydrastis ac. Immediately she leapt convulsively from her seat, was completely senseless, with fixed eyes, dilated, insensible pupils, the teeth firmly set. Stomach-pump was used, sinapisms to pit of stomach and calves, frictions, ammonia and brandy injected into stomach, but she remained insensible; weakness and paralysis continued unaltered. After cold douches to head and back she began to move, had convulsions, and writhed and groaned as if in agony. After this she began to move, and in a few h. was sensible and collected. For some d. she was weak and complained of weight, pain and heat of head and some gastric disturbance, but recovered completely. (BANKS, Edin, Journ., xIviii, 44.)

18. The author was called, May 23rd, at 7 a.m. to A.W – aet, 24, who had taken an uncertain quantity of Hydrastis ac. Feeling of chilly, he went after 1/4 h. to bed. His breathing became irregular, sometimes moaning, jaws fixed, teeth firmly closed, face covered with cold sweat, eyes open, eyeballs turned upwards, pupils rather contracted and insensible, gurgling noise in throat, pulse weak and quick. Cold douches to back and alcohol and chloride of lime internally. Pulse became quicker and hardly perceptible, heart’s beats scarcely to be felt, limbs cold, integuments of neck and chest livid and yellowish. Forearm stiff and flexed, face flushed, breathing irregular and moaning, Venesection to 10 oz. Convulsions increased, he raised himself up in bed supported by his r. arm, drew up the lower extremities, with fierce look an fixed eyes, he uttered 3 frightful groans and turned his body to the l. with his face downwards. Hot bottles were placed about him. In another 1/2 h. he complained of heat in throat and thirst; then rigors came on, which yielded to coffee and brandy; he vomited frequently cough; well in a few d. (GARSON, Edin. Medorrhinum Journ., Iix, 72)

19. An apothecary, aet. 32, took 1 1/2 oz. concentrated prussic acid. he was found in bed, lying on his back, quite dead, the fingers spasmodically clenched, the heels drawn inwards, nails and bluish red. P.M. (28 hours after death). – Strong smell of the acid. Face yellowish white, features swollen, eyes closed, limbs flexible. All the organs of the cavities of the body (except the spleen, kidneys, and pancreas), the vessels of the dura and pia matter, the arachnoid, plexus choroideus, cerebrum and cerebellum, lungs, trachea and bronchia, pleura, heart, heart’s cavities, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestinal canal, especially the ileum, all the large veins of abdomen (the vena cava superior less than the v.c. inferior), the jugular veins, the vessels of the penis and scrotum filled with coagulated dark blood. The cerebral sinuses contained about 4 oz. dark blood, the base of the brain a little bloody serum, the trachea and bronchia frothy bloody mucus, pericardium a tablespoonful of bluish-red- fluid, the gall-bladder a teaspoonful of thick brownish-yellow bile. The muscular tissue all over was dark brownish red. (DORNBLUTH, Casper’s med. Wochensch., 1837, No. 34, 537.)

20. A man, aet. 32, who had poisoned himself with H. acid lay with open eyes, dilated pupils, and red froth on lips. P.M. (3rd d.). – Face swollen, abdomen very distended, and umbilical and iliac regions covered with blisters containing a yellow watery fluid. The penis was of monstrous size. On cutting through scalp a considerable quantity of dark fluid blood flowed out. Vessels of surface of brain filled with dark fluid blood. At base of brain and medulla oblongata, in some places between pia matter and arachnoid, exudations of serous fluid in blisters the size of half a walnut. Cerebral cavities contained no fluid blood; r. ventricle empty, l. contained a moderate quantity of dark fluid blood; some serum in pericardium, much gas in bowels, a little mucus strongly smelling of the acid in stomach. (SCHUMANN, Casper’s med. Wochensch, 1843, No. 51, 831.)

21. A strong robust thief, aet. 36, swallowed about 40 gr. of Hydrastis ac. He staggered a few paces, then sank down and fell to the ground without making any sound. After 5 m. the doctor found him stretched out straight, completely lifeless, pulseless, and breathless; after a few minutes he had several extremely strong expirations, during which the ribs were almost retracted to the spine, and the chest appeared hollow outwards. Hands and feet very cold, features sunk, complexion dirty pale, eyes half open, bright and clear but insensible, mouth closed, abdomen and chest covered with clammy sweat, forehead and face cold and dry. In 1 1/2 m. he had 2 severe snoring respirations with convulsive movements of pectoral muscles. After 4 hours he was taken to the mortuary, and then he had one more expiration which sounded like ah! P.M. (next d.). – Countenance as if quietly sleeping, eyes half open and brilliant, the whole back stiff, mouth closed. On cutting through scalp and skull considerable flow of blue-black blood; brain and all its membranes, base of skull and tentorium cerebelli, congested with dark blood; on left side of skull 1/2 a table teaspoonful of red watery fluid. Intestines red, and here and there inflamed; m.m. of stomach with gangrenous spots and very friable, liver and spleen congested, lungs red and with black spots externally, internally full of blackish blood; right auricle and left ventricle filled with black blood (HUFELAND’S Journ., xI pt. i, 85)

22. A boy, aet. 3, ate some bitter almonds, and complained of pains in belly, could not stand, vomiting. On raising him up, eyes were closed, he was unconscious, cold and limp. When the doctor was him he was lying on the sofa, face quite pale; lips, nose and ears white and cold; body cold and limp; abdomen soft, but cold to touch; pulse scarcely to be felt, heart acts with diminished force, breathing scarcely perceptible, mouth firmly closed, could note be opened; made no response to his mother’s calls; on being shaken he again vomited; after an emetic recovered in a few d. (ROSSI, Medorrhinum Zeit. v. Verbascum f. Heilk. in Preussen, xiii, 239; in Frank’s Mag., i, 13.)

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

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.