19. A strong healthy girl of 16 swallowed a quantity of linimentum belladonnae about 3 p. m. On admission at 4 face was flushed, tongue dry, and gait unsteady. She was drowsy, pupils partially dilated, breathing regular, pulse 98. About 7:15 pulse was found to be 120, and temp. 105.6 o. Vomiting and diaphoresis were induced, with temporary improvement; but an hours later the thermometer indicated the very high temp. of 107.4 o, and pulse went up to 1009. An hours later she died, with temp. in axilla of 105.6 o. “In 9 cases of poisoning by B recently observed in Germany by Stratter and Strassman, the temp. was distinctly raised in every instance” (Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., Oct. 9, 1886) (Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., March 27, 1886.)
20. Dr. Shuldham was called to see a patient suffering from ” erysipelas.” He found a patch of bright redness on left cheek, which was also very much swollen, eye being completely closed; a vesicular eruption was scattered over the cheek, which was rough to the touch. On right breast, and above and below it from clavicle to 8th rib, was a similar rash, less brightly red. R. eyelids also were oedematous. Patient had complained of great irritation of skin and general feeling of discomfort before appearance of rash. Pupil of right eye was slightly dilated; pulse small and weak, 70; headache was complained of, and throbbing of affected cheek. it seemed that a belladonna plaster had been, 3 weeks ago, applied to a small tumour in right breast. After wearing it 10 day great irritation of skin had occurred, and a red rash appeared at edges. Plaster was not removed, irritation increased, and rash spread from breast to neck, right arm, and face. Under opium 1, speedy improvement occurred, skin desquamating. (Monthly Hom. Rev., xvii, 38.)
BELLIS (see vol.
i, p.571)
II. 1. A lady, aet. 45, of nervous temp., took by mistake for neuralgia a dose of the tinct. ” It produced,” she writes, ” marked swelling of eyelids, and large patches of scarlet flushing over forehead and cheeks – very conspicuous indeed, but at the same time without heat or burning. The appearance was like violent erythema, but there was no rash. As the day went on it grew paler, and next m. there was a sort of peeling of the skin – a dust brushed off it, as it were, when rubbed. The swelling of the eyelids, chiefly of the left, lasted longer than the patchy redness. There was that m. a sudden peculiar wide – awakedness – more than a common waking – before 3 a. m., and do what I would I could not get to sleep again. And yet it was comically pleasant, my head felt so clear and my wits so lively.” (Hom. World, 1890, p. 447.)
BISMUTHUM (see vol.
i, p.579; vol.ii p.729)
III. 4. Drs. Dalche and Villejean have been conducting a series of experiments upon dogs to demonstrate the symptoms of acute and chronic poisoning with B. They employed subcutaneous injections as the readiest means of introducing the drug into the system. 4 a. Their summary of acute poisoning is as follows: – A bluish – brown or black shining line appears at edge of gums, and patches of a similar colour on inner surface of cheeks and under surface of tongue. In very acute cases gangrene develops. Albuminuria, enteritis with bloody dysenteric stools, and hepatic congestion with increased secretion of bile, were also induced.
4b. In the more chronic cases, after repeated injection of doses of grm. 1/4 to 1/2, the following conditions developed: – Ulceration of inner surface of cheek, slight at first and like a mere scratch, gradually developing a brownish border and appearing also on tongue. The ulceration was always most marked at line of contact of teeth and cheek or lips, the exact shape of a tooth being sometimes marked out. Sometimes small local sloughs occurred, and in one case gangrene ensued and cheek was perforated. Whole mouth was inflamed; and gums were red and tender, and easily bled. In one case, in addition to the stomatitis, a paralytic condition was induced. At first the left hind leg became gradually weaker and weaker, and would not support the weight of the animal; undoubted atrophy of thigh accompanying this. Sensibility was difficult to estimate. Then the left foreleg was affected, and finally the right hinder extremity. The tendon reflexes were present, and pupils remained active. At the autopsy of this case no nerve lesions were found, but the spinal cord was not examined. Stomach was full of bile; large intestine inflamed; kidneys and liver congested. In the kidneys, albuminuria during life was associated with glomerulitis discovered at the autopsy. (Bull. gen. de Therap., cxv, 404.)
BORAX (see vol.
i, p.584)
II. 6. a. In our first cases we commenced with 30 gr. in the 24 hours, and pushed it, as fast as we could, up to 180 gr.; but we had to suspend the medicine very frequently owing to gastro – intestinal disturbance – slight vomiting and abdominal pain, with sore lips and tongue. In the later cases, therefore, we have been content as the maximum with 30 gr. 3 times a day after meals. Even thus its administration is attended with certain unpleasant symptoms. The most constant of these is an affection of the lips, which in its most typical and fully developed form results in swelling, chiefly of the lower lip, upon which small vesicles make their appearance, and become larger by coalescence; the contents then become milky, some of the vesicles burst, while others dry up, and the result is a scaly chapped condition of the lips, resembling that commonly seen in cold weather. Other cases develop the chapped condition without the previous formation of vesicles. In 2 cases the tongue became sore and denuded of epithelium at one or two points; 2 had slight eczematous patches on the skin close to the angles of the mouth, in addition to sore lips, and one – a little girl of 4 – had also an inflammatory condition of the mucous membrane of the nose with slight purulent discharge, and psoriasis guttata scattered over trunk and extremities.
6 b. Another case developed a curious erythematous condition of the hands. Fingers, backs and palms of hands, and lower fourth of forearm, were of a bright red hue, and looked slightly swollen; the redness disappeared on pressure, and there was no pitting. The parts affected gradually became more dusky, so that in a few day they were almost purple in colour, and about this time a few bright red patches, looking almost like extravasations, but disappearing on pressure, made their appearance on his face. Tongue also became very red, sore, and denuded of its epithelium in several places.
6 c Another case developed an eruption of small punctiform papules, resembling the condition seen in sudamina more than anything else. The eruption was scarcely perceptible at times, while at other times it would be more marked, intensely irritating, and accompanied by redness of skin, which looked a little swollen, and was sweating. The parts chiefly affected were the palms and soles, but patches were also seen on parts exposed to friction, such as waist, neck, axilla, &c. After the condition had lasted a week or more, very slight desquamation was observed on palms and soles.
6 d Another had an abundant crop of small papules all over face, especially on forehead, below eyes, and along naso – labial folds, after he had been taking drug for 10 weeks. Associated with the papules was a reddish – coppery, petechial eruption, which did not disappear on pressure. No discomfort was complained
of. 6 e. A considerable number of the patients became somewhat emaciated and pulled down physically after they had been on this treatment for any length of time; but in no case was there any sign of mental depression.
6 f. A young woman of 25 was attacked with pleurisy while taking the drug. The symptoms were pain, short hacking cough, and rise of temp.; and a well – marked friction rub could be heard on auscultation. At no time was there any evidence of effusion, though there were several relapses after the first manifestation of the disease. The patient had never had a similar attack before, and as no history could be obtained of the usual causes of pleurisy, it might be suggested that the affection of this serous membrane was similar to that which we had seen in skin and mucous membranes, and depended on the biborate of soda. (Russell and Taylor, ” Treatment of epilepsy by biborate of soda,” Lancet, 1890, i, 1061.)
BROMOFORMUM (see vol.
i, p.603)
II. 1. A boy of 4, suffering from whooping – cough, had been ordered bromoform in doses of Z dr. ter die. In the absence of his mother the boy got possession of the bottle, and drank some of it. Shortly afterwards he asked for food and seemed quite well, but suddenly the mother observed that his face was quite pale, and that he staggered. Dr. Sachs found him apparently lifeless, face of corpse – like paleness, pupils dilated and maximum and reactionless, lips cyanotic, pulse not to be felt, and extremities cool. Subcutaneous injection of ether, with cold douches on chest and back – child being in a lukewarm bath, brought him round, and in a few hours he was able to answer questions, and on next day was well. (Therap. Monatsheft., Dec., 1890.)
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.