There were taken altogether 15 gr. of argent. nit. The weather caused no amelioration of the symptoms. Coffee seemed sometimes to aggravate; but I am not quite sure of this-for I drank, since March Ist, in the m. and after midday a coffee made of cocoa husks or barely. The l. side appeared to be more frequently and powerfully affected. The pains also came on in n. during rest as during motion. The mucous membranes were not very much affected, only the increase in the quantity of the urine was conspicuous. The action was powerfully manifested in the nerves of the head, face, under-jaw, and upper and lower limbs. The back gave little sign of being affected; on one occasion, however, it was the seat of very painful symptoms. The action on heart and larynx was decided. Shooting in the ears and eyeballs, no symptoms in the conjunctiva. The pains in the limbs were especially on little circumscribed spots, frequently changing their seat; nevertheless, under the date 30th of March, we read of very long-lasting symptoms. The most violent pains were those of the upper and lower orbital edges, in the forehead, and below and behind the left ankle. (Neue Zeitschr. f. Hom. Klin., xi, 130.)
16. Dr. BYRES MOIR took Ist trit. for several days, in doses of gr. iss to gr. iij, but the results were too meagre and dubious to be recorded. (Dr. CLARKE’s provings, communicated.)
17. W. F. C-, 18, medium height, slight, fair hair, dark eyes, nervous-sanguine. Has had sore throat lately, but has been well of it some weeks. Is subject to headaches. On Aug. 27th, commenced to prove 3rd dil., taking 10 drops in 1/2 oz. of distilled water at 11 p.m., before retiring. The dose was repeated on seven consecutive n. The symptoms continued for one or two weeks after the medicine was stopped. Ist d., clayey taste in mouth immediately after dose. The same taste was noted after the dose the following n. 2nd d., dry sensation in the throat. Pharynx reddened. 3rd d., throat feels well, and is not so red. On each posterior pillar of the fauces is a long white patch, as if they had been touched with solid nitrate. Just after tea (5:30 p.m.) noticed his palate felt sore and swollen. On examination it was found quite white as if it had been cauterized, and somewhat swollen. The pharynx was at this time red, the white patches were gone from the fauces. In the m. I had touched the under surface of the tongue with the cork of the bottle containing the tincture being proved, moistened with the tincture undiluted. By the afternoon this spot was found to be becoming white. On the following d. (4th) the spot was still distinguishable by its whiteness from the surrounding mucous membrane. The whiteness of this spot was never so dense as that of the patches on the pillars of the fauces and palate. This experiment was made to try how far the phenomena of the fauces and palate might be due to the local action of the tincture in passing over the surfaces whilst being swallowed. The fine mucous membrane under the tongue would show, I thought, any local effects the tincture might be capable of producing. There was no immediate effect when I touched it with the undiluted tincture. Nothing was felt and nothing was seen; and I was not a little astonished in the evening to find a distinct though faint white mark at the spot I had touched. It was not nearly so densely white as the patches in the pharynx and palate. On the 5th d. pharynx very sore again in afternoon; red; and at root of left posterior pillar a milky patch. 6th day, throat feels sore, white patch all but gone. On going to bed last n. a stuffed sensation in the chest, as if in for a bad cold. Out of sorts all to-day. 7th d., much rumbling of flatus in the n. Eyes bloodshot in the m. The eyes became worse. On the 8th and 9th d. could not read at n., and on the 9th he had smarting; on 11th eyes almost clear. 10 d., teeth inclined to ache. 12th, the same on the r. side. 20th d., throat and esophagus sore and burning. I now gave him Arsenicum 6, gtt. j. t. d., and in the evening the burning sensation was all gone. The pharynx remained congested and tender long after the proving. (Ibid.)
18. Dr. J. H. CLARKE, 28 medium size, spare, sanguine- nervous, being in perfect health, except for slight afternoon flatulence, and an undefined feeling of oppression at the epigastrium, soon passing away, noticed each afternoon for some d. previously, began to prove argent. nit. Aug. 17th, 1881. The proving lasted 19 day, the effects 31 d. The dilution taken was the 6th centesimal, and the dose 10 to 12 drops in an ounce of distilled water, between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., just before retiring. Ist d., soon after the dose a sensation of warmth at the epigastrium. 1 1/2 h. after, a styptic sensation in throat. A metallic-astringent taste was noticed after the dose all through the proving, and at length became persistent. On the 10th d. it was noticed that warm tea seemed to develop it. On 9th and 13th day a feeling as if cauterized noticed in uvula. On 16th, 17th, and 18th days the taste of silver was very strong. 8th d., fine superficial sticking in eighth rib about centre, at times during d. 9th d., pricking in eyes. 11th day, sneezing and coryza. 14th d., eyes gummed, smarting on waking, better after getting up. Pricking in left eye. Headache over coronal sutures, passing to eyes and root of nose. 4 p.m., sore pain in upper and inner part of r. eye when reading. 15th day, aching in r. eye and nose, with same kind of headache. 17th d., eyes smart on closing them. 18th and 19th d., very bloodshot, smart by gaslight. 20th d., much better. 21st d., gone on rising. 24th d., painful. 10th d., pricking itching in a minute spot at back of neck, among the hair near hair border. Tenderness of tendons at back of r. index finger. Slight aching in r. molar teeth, in good condition. 11th d., slight transient aching in left teeth. Tenderness of tendons at back of left middle and right index fingers continues, with hyperesthesia of skin over them. The hyperesthesia extends up in a line from the finger to the outer condyle. During the day the hyperesthesia spread all over dorsum of r. hand to ulnar side, all up back of forearm, outer side of upper arm, shoulder, and r. side of face. The finger-joints became tender and stiff; outer side of head of ulna and olecranon very tender to touch. Shooting pain through metacarpo- phalangeal joint of index finger, felt also at elbow. The skin-sensation was like that of erysipelas, increased sensitiveness with diminished power of distinguishing sensations-a hyperesthetic-anesthetic condition-without any objective symptoms. Immediately after evening dose metallic taste with oppression and pain as if indigestion, slight nausea, burning of forepart of tongue. Spread of hyperesthesia to r.. side of body, dull pressive headache (r. side), scalp tender. 12th d., hyperaesthetic sensation increased. Slight tic (shooting pain) in face, not in head; head tender to cold. Slight stiffness in finger-joints. R. arm tender, and slightly painful, especially at shoulder, to move. 7 p.m., hyperaesthesia affects outer side of left hand, and skin over distal end of left ulna. Metacarpo- phalangeal joints of 3rd and 4th left fingers tender. 10:30 p.m., under left eye an elevated spot, size of split pea, with red base, looking like a blister, but only semi-fluid. It was seen before felt. There was a little burning (This was unlike any urticarious spot I have seen, and I never, to my knowledge, had anything of the kind before, though I have frequently since, and do now-1883-very rarely). On the 13th d. this spot had nearly gone, and another appeared on margin of r. lower eyelid. On the 22nd d., on both lower eyelids, on tarsal edges below the lashes, a spot of the same kind. In evening throat felt dry. On examining it a small irregularly oval white patch is seen at the back of the pharynx looking exactly as if it had been touched with lunar caustic. 14th day, pricking in the throat making the right eye water. 13th d., all symptoms lessened: no dose taken the previous. Sick feeling in m. and afternoon, coming between meals and not interfering with the appetite, which is as good as usual. Muscles of r. side of neck sore and stiff. Skin of r. shoulder tender, irritated by brace, though right brace not tighter than left, aching pain on motion and tenderness of muscles at back of r. scapula. Tenderness gone from hand and ulna (r.?). Pain in middle of back. 14th d., irritable urticarious spot back of right shoulder. Muscles of shoulder still sore. Itching in perineum. 16th d., slight return of hyperaesthesia in r. arm; it had almost vanished, soreness of muscles gone. Burning in back of arms after dinner. 17th d., increase of hyperesthesia of right arm, especially outer side of elbow. On 19th day it was very marked in r. arm and felt slightly in face. On 23rd d. it returned again; 24th d., it was gone except from a patch on back of r. arm.. On the 27 d. it returned again with slight tenderness of small joints, and in evening was very bad. On the 30th d. it was all gone. Shoot in r. side of face over ramus of jaw. 15th d., pains round the loins passing off into flatus. This recurred frequently afterwards. On the 16th day pain was as of slight band across loins. There was an aching in centre of back; and a dull pain in sacrum. On the 17th d. there was general weakness of lower limbs; ascending stairs was much more a labour than usual. Dull pain in centre of back at r. of spinal column. On 19th d., in afternoon on standing, pain in sacrum and down thigh. 21st d., rather severe pain on rising in right sacro-sciatic notch, where the nerve passes out. 22nd d.., a good deal of back-ache, especially in r. sacro-sciatic notch. On 23rd d. the backache had gone. 16th d., rumbling of flatus in body, slight pain in abdomen (this on retiring after midnight, shortly after the evening dose); after rising in m., sick feeling, with some belching and pain in abdomen. 17th d., feeling of looseness in bowels, with slight pain in lower abdomen. 22nd d., pain at r. of epigastrium and great tenderness. Giddiness (after dose repeated at noon). 17th d., slight giddiness on rising with slight headache. After the evening dose, nausea and slight giddiness. 20th d., tenderness of under part of r. heel on treading. Shoots longitudinally in right and left sides of chest at different times. Shoot in r. ear whilst walking almost making me stop. (Ibid.)
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.