30 b. Jan. 16th. -Took for 6 evening 6 pellets of 30th. 17th. -Pulsations at umbilicus and in right anterior tibial artery; deep-seated numbness in right hip-joint, extending to pubes. 18th-26th-Feet, usually cold, have become warm, and sweat more; numbness from lumbar vertebra round crest of right ilium and inside of thigh to knee. 27th. -Edematous swelling of forehead and face, with itching allayed only by pinching; itching at seat of former numbness in thigh.
30 c. Took 1 dose of 6 pellets of 30th, and awoke next m. with distressing lancinating griping in bowels; afterwards one acrid, burning, watery stool, relieving pains, but leaving great weakness; he falls asleep after sitting down; pulse 60, full. (Ibid.)
31. From beginning of Nov., 1856, to following June, I took by way of experiment 4 grms. of arseniate of soda, a single dose taken at a time, at intervals of 2 d., beginning with 5 mlgrms, and increasing gradually to 4 grms. During whole period no intolerance of drug was experienced, but appetite was excessive, and I assumed an embon-point quite striking to my acquaintances. Discontinuance of drug was followed by considerable emaciation, but by no other symptoms. Later, 5 grms. of arsenious acid, taken at supper, caused nothing more than nausea and headache the following m., with slight diarrhea, all of which entirely disappeared in course of day (GOUFFIER, Rech. sur l’usage int. des. prep. arsen., Paris, 1857)
32. Dr. JAS. JONES took Arsenicum 3, in drop doses 4, times a d., for 6 weeks. He lost flesh, had some acidity and heat at stomach, thirst, and two patches of squamous eruption over external malleolus. Ten years later skin was still darker than that of rest of body, and occasionally itched. (Annals of B. H.S., viii, 62.)
33. HARLES gave to healthy adults 1/12th to 1/6th gr. ars. every 4, 5, or more h. Effects were increase of muscular irritability and contractility, at first especially in stomach and intestines, then in arterial system; less in voluntary motor muscles of limbs. Increase of peristaltic movements of intestines. Slight contractions of esophagus, stronger arterial pulse, increase of energy of small arteries of extremities, increased heat and appetite. Excitation of the nerves at the place where the drug is received, up to considerable erethism and increased sensitiveness. This effect is observed chiefly in the nerves of the stomach and small intestines. The pulsation of the arteries is increased in strength and frequency, even after a very small dose of ars. When the dose is somewhat increased a febrile commotion is observed in the whole sanguineous system, and if the drug is continued a kind of remittent fever is produced, not exactly a rigor or febrile chill, but fugitive heats affect the body, sometimes declining, sometimes increasing, chiefly felt in the stomach and precordia, and also in face and forehead, terminating generally in moisture or sweat, either general or specially in face and palms of hands. This kind of fever occurs from the internal, but also from the external, use of ars. (i. e. when applied to cancerous ulcers). This fever, whether observed in healthy men or in cases of disease, has no certain type, like ague. The temperature of the whole body is in excess of the normal; the heat is for the most part dry (unless there is fever), and sometimes more or less pungent, but when small doses are taken it is hardly unpleasant, and (when the ars. is taken by the mouth) almost always seems to proceed from the stomach and precordia as a centre, and spreads thence over the rest of the body, but is more especially felt in forehead and eyebrows. There is slight pinching and heat of stomach and esophagus, seldom slightly painful, never very painful unless the dose was very large. Appetite for food somewhat increased, sometimes to greater hunger than usual, ther digestion is good, perhaps increased when small doses 1/12th to 1/8th are given. A larger dose diminishes the appetite, causes prostration and nausea, and even vomiting. Thirst increased moderately with small doses, more with larger doses. Stools usually more frequent, loose and pappy, or if the use of the ars. is prolonged semi- liquid; but scarcely so frequent and liquid as to be called diarrhea or yet dysentery; colic and tenesmus are only observed from larger doses, or if the med. be long continued or frequently repeated. The urinary secretion and excretion are more frequent and profuse, the urine is more profuse when the skin is dry than when there is perspiration. Long-continued use of ars. sometimes causes increased secretion of saliva, slight ptyalism, and increased and easy secretion of phlegm from the mucous glands of the fauces, trachea, and lungs, especially in persons subject to defluxion in the respiratory tubes, and to catarrhs. (De Arsenicum usu in Medorrhinum, Norimb., 1811.).
Poisonings
[ It must be remembered that this Cyclopaedia does not profess to give a complete collection of all recorded cases of poisoning by drugs, or an exhaustive account of the appearance therein of any particular phenomena. The instruction under which the work bid us “give, in describing virulent drugs, such selected cases as may properly illustrate the various forms of poisoning by them;” and this we have confined ourselves. It must be understood that the symptoms and symptom-groups here presented are typical, not isolated occurrences. At the same time, to promote confidence and aid in further study, we have under Arsenic given occasional references to cases not introduced into the text, that the wide field of its toxicology may be more fully utilised. The further treatment of individual symptoms must be left to the companion volume in preparation by the Hahnemann Publishing Society.-EDS.]
1. A female, et. 22, swallowed a large dose of A. She was immediately afterwards seized with intense thirst, severe burning pain, violent vomiting and diarrhea, continuing incessantly till death, which took place in 7 h. There were no nervous symptoms. Stomach and whole alimentary canal were found extensively inflamed (TAYLOR, op. cit., p. 320.)
2 a. A youth, et. 17, took more than 3ss of A., about 11:30 a.m. By 1 he had been attacked with vomiting and very violent retching, with much distress. At 2 he was seen in bed; vomiting still frequent; heat and uneasiness in gullet, but more distressing and pungent in stomach; pulse 112, pretty sharp; skin rather hot; tongue white and dry; urgent thirst. Stomach being washed out, symptoms of gastritis diminished; but general chilliness, coldness of extremities and cramps of legs indicated approaching collapse. At 4, a very copious stool, loose, without blood, painless. Towards 6, drowsy, very sensible of cold, still vomiting occasionally yellow fluid and mucus. No pain or tenderness at epigastrium, and burning there had almost ceased; cramps extending upwards. Pulse not above 70, and small; heat of trunk below natural. About 7, evacuation of ash-coloured fluid like dirty water; general sinking; increasing drowsiness. Between 8 and 9, pulse small and irregular, 70-140. Mouthfuls of same yellowish fluid discharged from time to time without effort; thirst not urgent, but he swallowed very readily any fluid that was given. Cramp extended to abdomen, but did not cause much suffering. Continued drowsy and quiet, and died thus at 2 a.m.
2 b. p.m. (12 h. later). -Muscles (including heart) strongly defined and rigid, and on dissection peculiarly red and firm, especially in abdomen; costal pleura much injected; [ So also in Nos. 93 (3viij of bloody serum in sac), 136, and 256 (a fowl) of BERRIDGE. (See next note).] left heart empty, right full of dark fluid blood. Stomach reddened much, and at one spot abraded, towards pylorus; small intestine also reddened internally. Colon and bladder much contracted. [ The contraction of colon noted here is also in Nos. 94, 262-3 266 and 274 of Dr. Berridge’s collection of cases of poisoning by A. in his Pathogenetic Record, vol. i, published as appendix to Brit. Journ. of Hom.] Urine turbid, milky-white, and coagulated from heat. (Edin. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., xxxii, 305.)
3. A large number of persons were poisoned at St. Denis by eating bread containing A. Dr. Feltz had under his care 80 cases. Most of these presented similar symptoms. Soon after the meal, sense of weight at epigastrium and general malaise were experienced. Vomiting occurred 1-4 h. after the meal, at first of food. Several presented diarrhea at same time as vomiting, but in more than one-half there was no early diarrhea. The latter ceased in all cases in 6-8 hours, while vomiting continued 24 or even 36 h., and was frequent, of greenish-yellow mucus, and bilious matters. In some, who had no immediate diarrhea, a slight attack occurred in course of Ist d. Others had no diarrhea at any time. Two, who had eaten the bread for 2 d., had no vomiting, but suffered from diarrhea for about 12 d., their other symptoms being the same as those of the rest. There was burning pain in throat, behind sternum, and in epigastrium, and at latter spot very painful sense of weight. Pulse varied between 90 and 110, and was regular; skin was dry. Headache severe, with acute sense of constriction in temples. Most patients complained of noises in ears and of slight vertigo. There was prostration, and sense of extreme feebleness in legs, with severe pain in loins: later symptom was invariable. Urine was normal; in some, during period of vomiting and diarrhea, very little urine was passed in no case was there any excessive urinary secretion.
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.