20. J. S. CRAWFORD, M. D.-From 30th, on 3rd d., at 6 p.m., dull heavy feeling in head lasting 3 h. On 4th d., 3 p.m., same feeling for 5 h., after which head ached violently, all movement (even turning head) aggravating and tying handkerchief tightly round it relieving; at 10:30 p.m., some cramp-like pains in abdomen. On 5th day, wakened at 6 a.m. by pain there, followed by a sudden copious lumpy stool; this repeated at 8 and 11; slight dullness in head. On 8th d., had to rise twice during n. to micturate, passing a large quantity of pale urine. On 9th day, pain over right eye. On 10th day, at 3 p.m., dull heavy feeling in head, especially in vertex, increasing in severity till he went to bed, and made worse by stooping or moving head; aching took away appetite. (Ibid.)
21. J. C. KING, M. D.- a. Under 30th, on 2nd d., uncomfortable feeling in abdomen and tightness in stomach; two stools, small and firm, with much flatus; pulse 72 and full; m. urine light yellow, cloudy, precipitating after 2 h., acid, 1029; dense white granular precipitate from heat (redissolving under nitric acid), leaving urine clear and reddish brown; under microscope some phosphates visible; in evening these more abundant. On 3rd d., pain in left knee before rising in morning; sharp pain in ilium on rising up (4 p.m.); bruised sensation externally over first joint of great toe. Abdomen swollen and painful, passage of flatus affording some relief, but straining, pressure, or walking produces severe pain; two firm stools; inner canthi of eyes sore and red, objects blurred. On 4th d. severe pain under ensiform cartilage at noon, and at 4:40 p.m. dull pain and distension in umbilical and hypogastric regions; one small firm stool; urine of dark straw colour, mild odour, acid reaction 1030, phosphates still abundant; slight coryza in m., which, with abdominal distension, recurred on 5th d.
21 b. Under 15th, on 9th d., sharp pains in right little finger; uncomfortable fullness and pain in stomach, relieved by emission of flatus. Same in abdomen on 11th, but more severe, and flatus more abundant. On 14th d., stiffness and tenderness in upper part of sterno-mastoid. On 18th d., fullness in head all m., with occasional shooting pains over right eye; head feels sore and he is drowsy.
21 c. Under 0/, on 21st d., unpleasant feeling of general indisposition, business irksome, in evening very nervous and exhausted; head dull (in e.) with dull pain at vertex, pulse 90, hot and dry skin; nose stopped up; eyes tired and painful, with injected conjunctiva; mouth and gums tender, tongue coated whitish yellow; conscious of stomach, qualmishness alternating with pain, appetite failing; urine 1029 and depositing phosphates; aching in thighs. On 22nd, quite nervous and uneasy; skin hot, pulse 84 but temperature subnormal, head as on 21st; eyes swollen, painful, injected, and sensitive to light; thirst, poor appetite, qualmishness after meals, relieved by effervescing drink; rumbling and pain in abdomen; ineffectual desire for stool; dull dragging pain in perineum and lower part of scrotum; rheumatic pains in limbs, especially lower, running from hip to toes, worse at rest, better on movement, -also in second joints of fingers. Very restless on this and two preceding n., frequently waking to find position shifted and coverings thrown off (normally quite otherwise). On 23rd d., eyes sore, cannot read or write without pain in them; face and neck covered with a fine miliary eruption, with here and there a pustule or large reddish pimple; legs still ache (on flexor aspect). On 24th day, 8:40 p.m., a severe pain as if sprained shot through two last toes, making him limp. On 25th day, dull aching in vertex and over eyes all day; eyes as before; depression and utter disinclination to work; before rising severe cramp-like pain from popliteal space down gastrocnemius; pain in toes did not go off till this evening; pain also in flexor muscles of thigh on movement, as if bruised. On 26th d. ate no breakfast; and at 11:30 a.m. had darting sticking pain in great cul-de-sac, lasting till 12:30; pulse full, 90. For several d. aversion to accustomed cigar, and after smoking symptoms grew worse.
21 d. At this point prover went into the country, and there got much better. He does not say if he intermitted his proving, but we find no symptoms recorded till the 36th day, when he is still taking 0/. On that d. he notes slight fluent coryza; on the 37th a small blister on right side of tongue near base; and on 38th return of soreness and congestion of eyes, with lachrymation, also neuralgic pains along ulnar nerve. On 39th n. had many dreams and was restless. On 40th d., again pain from distension of lower abdomen, relieved by passing flatus; he notes that he has been urinating more copiously since taking medicine. On 41st d., pain all afternoon, pain at bifurcation of right common carotid, felt on moving head, on pressing spot, but not on swallowing; pulse 85, full, and regular; appetite very good. On 42nd d., sick at stomach all afternoon; some distension-pain; restless, and unable to think or study; eyes as before. On 43rd d., inability to think clearly or rapidly; eyes swollen and painful; less sickness at stomach, but thirst all d., wanted water often, but little at a time; pulse 84, full, and regular; on face and neck, most on right side, an eruption of diffused irregular patches, with numerous papular elevations, without areola, with pointed apex; some pain in left leg, commencing soon after rising in outer aspect of knee, extending over whole lower leg to tarsus, most severe just below popliteal space, going off in evening; feeling of soreness all over legs, but worse in left On 44th d., same feelings recurred about 3 p.m., worst in left hip-joint. On 45th d., exceedingly nervous, it required an effort to sit still; occasional dull headache on vertex for 15 m. at a time; discharge of a thick yellowish substance from the nose; eyes as before; appetite going, getting less for 4 day past; conscious of stomach; no relish for usual tobacco; in evening gnawing pain in lower part of rectum, as if worms were boring in it; same pains in legs. On 46th day, mental state varying; same headache; eyes as before, watering profusely on reading; stomach worse, very thirsty; worse after eating or drinking, bitter taste and yellowish coat on tongue; pulse 86; some pain in left knee and hip; anterior muscles of thigh painful when walking and tender when touched; ulnar neuralgic pain; pains wander about; at n. restless and dreaming. On 47th d., still very nervous, cannot hold pen steadily; headache quite severe on vertex and forehead, worse above right eye; pain or sickness at stomach after meals, relieved by effervescing drinks; slept little at n., very restless. On 48th d., nervous still; eyes worse than usual, photo-phobia, pressure on balls produces pain after its removal. On 49th d., eyes bad up to 10 a.m.; severe but dull headache till 2:30 p.m. On 50th d., eyes painful for about 2 h. after rising, and at times through day when using them, or when exposed to bright sunlight; both nostrils inflamed. On 51st d., nostrils quite tender when touched; eyes a little sore this m., and conjunctiva slightly reddened and jaundiced. On 53rd d., nostrils less painful, but still indurated and sore; mind clearer, and more active and cheerful; appetite improving rapidly, and becoming even excessive. On 48th d., extremely painful corns appeared on little toes, a most unusual thing, and without assignable cause; they continued without mitigation till to-day, when they are disappearing. On 58th d., appetite and disposition still better; a small boil on right chin, and one on tuberosity of ischium. [The prover does not say when he ceased taking medicine; from internal evidence it would seem to have been between 51st and 53rd day -EDS.]
21 e. “It is now 2 years since I engaged in the proving of the ars. of soda. Many of the symptoms produced in me wore off gradually; some few have persistently remained. The skin symptoms disappeared soon after the drug was discontinued. The head symptoms have occasioned no inconvenience for many months. Ever since taking the drug the respiratory mucous membrane has been unusually sensitive to the influence of cold and irritating dust or vapour. Every d. for 2 years I have hawked up more or less thick white mucus; white thick yellow mucus has been discharged from the posterior nares. These symptoms are aggravated by the inhalation of dust, smoke, &c. There is a tendency to the formation of dry crusts in the nose; when these are removed blood follows. There is a pretty constant compressive pain at the root of the nose. After a trifling exposure to cold my throat assumes the bed, puffy appearance noted at the time of the proving; no pain accompanies this condition. The action of the drug on the eyes was very marked at the time the proving was made, and the symptoms have since been so persistent that I fear the results are permanent. The eyes feel constantly weak, as if the lids must be kept closed to protect the ball. the conjunctiva seems dry and painful. When reading or writing, the eyes soon become tired and painful. A slight exposure to cold or wind produces congestion of the conjunctiva. After looking at an object a short time it becomes blurred and indistinct; the eyes are very sensitive to light. All the eye symptoms are worse in the m., become gradually less severe, and disappear towards e. The eyes do not suffer especially from artificial light. The abdominal symptoms have not been prominent for some time; the bowels, however, have not been regular since the proving; they are alternately relaxed and constipated; gas accumulates very rapidly, producing pain, which is only relieved by an action of the bowels or escape of flatus. The neuralgic pains in the lower extremities have returned at intervals, apparently without any exciting cause; they appear chiefly in the left thigh, leg, and foot, and the nerves supplying the flexor muscles are alone affected.” (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.