Provings
1. Dr. THOS. NICHOL, aet. 34, strong, sanguine temp.; accustomed to proving, and susceptible to drugs. Nov. 9th, 1865, in excellent health, took at 11:45 a.m. 20 drops Ist dec. dil. tinct. of root; in 15 m. dry cough with constriction of throat; at 12, feeling of warmth in chest, with dull pain at base of lungs, with feeling of tightness. At 12:30 p.m. sharp pains shooting from left nipple downward, with stiffness of left side of neck. Pulse was 64 at commencement of proving, is now 88 and small. Warmth of skin. At 3 p.m. 30 drops Ist dec. dil.; at 3:30 return of pain beneath left nipple, with palpitation of heart. Throughout e. pains kept increasing, making respiration painful, especially at base of left lung, which is dull on percussion, while cough is dry and spasmodic. At 10 p.m. 40 drops Ist. dec. dil. Was awake about 4 a.m., found pain increased and cough worse. Towards e. unusual elevation of spirits. Nov. 10th-40 drops at 11 a.m. At 12 m. dull aching headache in forehead and vertex, aggravated by motion and relieved by lying down. At 12:25 p.m. rumbling and uneasiness in bowels with feeling of heat in umbilical region. Headache presses deeply on base of skull, and is very similar to the ipec. headache. Itching of skin of thighs, though no eruption visible. At 4:30 p.m. pain moved up to behind sternum and became more sharp and cutting; aggravated by drawing long breath and by motion of hands as in triturating. Chilly, with cold feet, though room was warm. At 5 p.m. 40 drops. Singing or loud speaking aggravates thoracic pain. At 10 p.m. 40 drops. Nov. 11th, at 9:30 p.m., 50 drops. Swimming of head with dulness behind forehead. Continued itching of thighs and nates. Cough continues dry and harsh, and coughing causes pain in forehead and abdomen. Pain in lungs relieved by bending forward. Spaces between ribs close to sternum are tender on pressure, and pain, which is quick, darting, and more acute than at first, shoots over to right side. At noon pain was shooting up to left shoulder, which was painful in motion. At 9 p.m. cheerful mood changed, and, without any exterior, cause, became fretful and peevish. Nov. 12th. -Uneasy sleep during first part of preceding night, with frightful dreams, which awoke him at 3 a.m. Found pain of left lung had abated, and left feeling of weariness, though pain returned on coughing or drawing deep inspiration. Pain is now very acute on right side, and seems seated in pleura. Cough dry and hacking, though a little mucus is raised with great effort. 9 a.m., head feels dull and gloomy; sharp shooting pains in right shoulder. 10 p.m., 20 drops 0/. At 4 p.m. pressing pain in bowels and emission of fetid flatulence. At 5 p.m. pressive pain in stomach, with rumbling in bowels. Languor and disinclination for work. Awoke 3 a.m. by rumbling in bowels, accompanied by sharp cutting pains; felt tranquil and calm, though pain very severe. Nov. 13th. -Soft and fetid stool at 11 a.m., preceded by rumbling in bowels. Thoracic pains easier to- day, though still felt in region of diaphragm and on motion. At 4 p.m. 30 drops 0/. At 5 p.m. another stool similar to that in morning; this is an unusual occurrence. At 11 p.m. urging to stool. Slept all night, but gloomy and frightful dreams. On awaking at 6 a.m. rumbling in bowels with soreness of peritoneum; dull pain on pressure. Nov. 14th, at 7 a.m., 40 drops of Ist dec. dil., as I had noted more decided symptoms from it than from mother tincture. Languid and dull and all d., both in body and mind. Felt precisely as if recovering from long, severe sickness. Appetite deficient, disagreeable feeling of weight at stomach. Nov. 15th. -Aching pains in knees, and driving pains in thighs, and feel still more languid than on preceding d. Slept all n. till 5 a.m., when I was awoke by frightful dreams, which had haunted me all n. Chest feels weak and sore, without cough, though no pain felt on drawing long breath. (HALE, New Remedies, 2nd ed.).
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.