Introduction
An alkaloid obtained from Belladonna, C17 H23 No3.
Provings
1 a. W. S. MOFFAT. July 3, 1867, I commenced experimenting with A. Am 21 years of age; nervous temperament; good constitution; somewhat subject to gastric and bilious derangement. Do not habitually use tea, coffee, or alcoholic stimulants; labour mental; take meals at regular hours, 3 times a day; also free exercise in the open air. Hours of sleep, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. At 1 p.m. took 5 gr. 3rd dec. trit. of A.; no symptoms. At 3 same dose; no symptoms. July 4,3 p.m. took 5 gr. 2nd trit.; shortly after taking the drug I experienced sensation of dryness in throat, with feeling of fulness and pressure at temples. While reading a book letters gradually grew indistinct and seemed wavering before eyes. These sensations were succeeded by vertigo, in consequence of which I was obliged to lie down. Fulness of temples and also of forehead, with very slight pain; can scarcely walk, am, so dizzy; pupils somewhat dilated. Again, during same afternoon, took 5 gr. 2nd dec. trit, which I had difficulty in swallowing on account of dryness of throat. Drank part of a glass of water which seemed to taste like A. Dull pain in temples, coming on at intervals of perhaps 1/4 h. and lasting a few m. This pain is not severe but seems like a deep heavy pressure; at other times it is a steady tension in anterior cerebral region, as if brain was being pressed outward in all directions. Slight nausea, lasting but a few m., coming on again after an interval of 1/2 h. Slight numbness and prickling in hands, extending to tips of fingers. Prickling soon ceased, but numbness continued and increased, till in a short time there was complete loss of sensation. Lost power to estimate distances, either by eye or touch; touching an object does not produce the slightest sensation. Upon attempting to place hand upon a table cannot tell when hand hand touches it. Continual opening and shutting hands and grasping at imaginary objects in air. Thrusting pins into skin causes no sensation of pain; water, either warm or cold, glides over surface of body without moistening it or producing any appreciable sensation. This anaesthesia continued several h. Loss of sensation in the buccal cavity, with complete loss of taste. When swallowing water from a tumbler I could not be persuaded that I had drunk any wine, dilatation of pupils; eyes appear fixed and glassy; entire loss of power to compare objects with eye and determine their respective distances. In attempting to walk would reel and stagger, catch at objects which appeared to me in close proximity, but which in reality were far from my reach; would often stumble over objects which to me seemed to be many feet away. Immediately upon closing eyes, after retiring, the mind became filled with strange and fanciful ideas, rambling, incoherent speech, spectral illusion, with frequents fit of wild, uncontrollable laughter. The delirium and spectral illusions continued through the n., during which time I fancied myself afflicted with epilepsy, and was constantly fearful lest others should discover my unfortunate condition; was nearly obvious to all that transpired during the latter part of the night, but know from bruises received and sensations of pain occasionally experienced upon coming in contact with a stove, chair, table, or some solid body, that it was passed in the wildest delirium. July 5, 6 a.m. feel as though awakened from a dream; pupils very much dilated; spectral illusions continue; frequently through forenoon thought that persons in the room spoke to me, and would carry on conversation with these imaginary beings, am absent minded and forgetful. When conversing, after partly finishing a sentence, was often obliged to stop and inquiry what I had been saying; while talking with persons they suddenly vanish. Jerkings of muscles, particularly those of legs, arms and face. While attempting to drink from a glass my arm suddenly contracted and water was spilled. While walking the flexor muscles of one or both legs would suddenly contract, throwing me to ground; do not dare to walk across room for fear of falling. 12, m., most of symptoms abating and reason is slowly returning. Eyes intolerant to light; pupils still much dilated; can see to read little, but after a few words letters grow indistinct, and am obliged to close eyes to rest them; feeling of pressure in anterior part of the head still continues. July 6.- Pupils continue somewhat dilated. Slight twitching of single muscles. There remained for several d. difficulty of fixing attention upon anything for more than a few m. at a time after which no more symptoms were noticed.
1 b. Aug. 7, 1867, 8 p.m. took I gr. 2nd dec. trit. No symptoms, except slight dryness of fauces. 8th, 8 p.m., took I gr. 2nd dec. trit. In a few m. feeling of dryness in throat, causing constant inclination to cough. Swallowing water affords momentary relief. 9, dull pain in eyes and slight pain in temples. 9:15, retired. Slight pain in eyes continued for about 2 h. accompanied part of time by unpleasant sensation of fulness and pressure in anterior part of head, making me restless and uneasy. Continued tossing about and changing position in bed; did not sleep any till near m. Dryness of mouth, and that continued through n. 9th- Arose felling uneasy and unrefreshed. Sensation of fulness in forehead still continues. There has been at no time, either in this proving or the preceding, any throbbing of carotids or arteries of head. Eyes feel wearied; pupils dilated. Dizziness on moving head quickly. These symptoms continued through d. At 8 p.m., took 1/2 gr. 2nd dec. trit. In a few m. dryness of fauces seems extending over whole mouth. 10, head feels full and uncomfortable. 12, midnight, sharp pain under right eye with slight pain in temples; head hot; pupils widely dilated. 1 a.m., retired and slept soundly until morning. 10th, 7 a.m., head feels dull and unpleasant; pupils still dilated dimness of vision; dizziness upon moving the head suddenly. 6 a.m., slight pain in anterior superior cerebral region, coming on shortly after taking drug, continuing through n. and next day 11th. Took none of the drug, Dull pain in head continues, with dizziness upon moving suddenly. 12th.- slight pain in anterior part of head through d. 8 p.m., took 1/2 gr. of 2nd dec. Dull pain in eyes and head; pupils dilated; no other symptoms. 13th, 8 p.m., took same. No other symptoms than slight fulness in front part of head and dilatations of pupils. 14th, 10 a.m., took 1 gr. of 2nd dec. In a short time dryness of throat and feeling of pressure in anterior and superior cerebral regions. 12 a.m., numbness of fingers and partial loss of sensation; cannot tell when I am holding small objects in hand; hand feels dry and glossy; pupils dilated; cannot see to read. After looking at objects a few moments they become indistinct and fade from view. Dryness of the throat has extended over entire buccal cavity; mucous membrane of lips dry and parched; water affords no relief. Dizziness when attempting to walk; mouth very dry, so dry that upon inserting the finger it will not be moistened. Food all tastes alike, like sawdust; tastes dry and cannot swallow except by washing it down with some liquid, owing to the deficiency of secretion of saliva. 7 p.m., all symptoms have gradually abated, till now there only remains dull heavy pain in forehead, slight dilatation of pupils and dimness of vision. 15th. – No more symptoms. (Dr. HALE’s proving, Trans. of N. Y. State Hom. Medorrhinum Soc., vi, 83)
2. C. S. FAHENSTOCK. Temperament nervo – bilious; health good; habits regular; uses little tea or coffee; does not use alcohol; pulse from 80 to 85. Dec 5th. 1867, 10:20 p.m., in usual health, pulse 85; took 1 gr. 1st dec. trit. 10:25, pulse 96. 11.5, took 1/4 grain 1st dec. trit. Dryness of tongue and fauces immediately after taking second dose. When asked to protrude tongue, he does it with difficulty and only after considerable effort; cannot move the tongue about in mouth at will. Thick viscid or slimy mucus in mouth; stoppage of secretion of saliva; smoking does not bring any saliva into the mouth; pulse 124; pupils somewhat dilated; slight sweetish taste in mouth. 11:30, throbbing in temporal region; head hot; pulse 130, but not so full; small quantity of thick, frothy, white sputa is ejected at intervals; slight nausea; deep seated dull pain in back part of eyes; smoking does not excite any flow of saliva; hands feel smooth and glossy; pupils considerably dilated; fauces and uvula red; drops of white mucus sticking to uvula; mouth very dry; no thirst; cannot feel passage of water through mouth or throat when drinking; pulse 113, not so full but harder. 12, m., slight pain in temples; dryness of mouth has increased and now extends to lips, which feel dry and parched; food is tasteless; pulse 100, natural in character. 12:15, pulse 104; some vertigo; buccal cavity feels hot; other symptoms the same. 12.30, fell asleep while lying upon the sofa. 2:30, awoke very dizzy, cannot walk across the floor, but staggers towards objects for support; same slimy taste in mouth; can see but little; pupils considerably dilated, but contract readily under the influence of light; pulse 104; retired for n. 6th, 7 a.m., awoke still feeling quite dizzy; was restless and uneasy through n., but slept a considerable part of the time; dull, heavy, aching pain in eyelids, not severe. Eyelids feel sore, are red and congested; pulse 86, full and soft; tongue slightly coated white; uvula red; thin coating of viscid, slimy, white mucus over entire buccal cavity; could swallow no breakfast on account of deficiency of buccal secretions to moisten food.7:30, can drink water without difficulty, but it produces no sensation in mouth or throat except slight feeling of coldness; is scarcely aware when he swallows it. Feels drowsy and not inclined to speak or move about. 8:30, has slept most of time since last record; took 1 1/4 grains Ist dec.; walked about a mile to college. 9:30 pupils a great deal dilated, eyes look glassy and congested; eyelids swollen; tongue thickly coated with whitish mucus; same numbness and partial loss of sensation in fingers; feels as though he were holding a book in his hands which he is afraid he will drop upon taking a small object, as a pin into his hand, it appears to him as though there were five or six of them; sensation of fulness in anterior part of brain; mucous membrane of nose dry; slight nausea. 11:30, pulse 108; tongue trembles when protruded from mouth; dilatation of pupils is increasing; can see but little; some vertigo. 12:30 p.m. during last half hour has had several slight spasms of muscles of limbs and one of entire body. 1:30, first noticed diplopia. 6, mind has been wandering a considerable part of time through afternoon; often thinks he is spoken to and answers imaginary questions. He had eructations tasting like yolk of eggs at intervals through d.; pupils still dilated; can see but little; appears dull and stupid. 8, mouth and throat are becoming more moist; slight pain in eyes still continues; it is as if eyeballs were pressed from without in every direction. 10 pulse normal; has taken a cup of strong coffee; can see to read coarse print a few moments at a time; any sudden noise startles him; mouth and nose quite moist. 7th, 8 a.m.; has had profuse urination for past 24 hours; excessive secretion of saliva; neuralgic pains commencing under left orbit and running back to ear, lasting perhaps 10 m. at a time and then disappearing for 15 or 20; these have been noticed for several hours; throat feels raw and irritated; has had several paroxysms of coughing, caused by collection of mucus in throat, occurring once in 15 or 30 m., attended with difficult expectoration of a thick, tough mucus; after coughing, burning in throat; mucous membrane of throat slightly darker than in health, and presents a mottled appearance; pupils are still dilated; can see to read quite distinctly for a few moments after which letters, words and lines run together and become indistinct. No more symptoms were noticed, but prover was absent minded at intervals for several d., and found difficulty in fixing his mind upon any subject for more than a few m. at a time. (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.