3. C. H. CHAMBERLAIN, constitution good; habits regular; sanguine temperament; seldom uses stimulants of any kind. Dec. 6th, 1867. – In usual health; pulse 72. 10:45 a.m., took 2 gr. Ist dec. trit. 10:50, pupils have commenced to dilate. 11, pulse 80, flushed face; burning in face; slight vertigo and pressure in temples, with little or no pain. 11:20, pulse 116 tongue and mouth dry; considerable vertigo particularly upon turning head suddenly; feeling of warmth as of a glow through thoracic region. 11:40 pulse considerably dilated; vertigo increasing. 12, m pulse 112; mouth and tongue very dry, with great difficulty in swallowing. Same symptoms continued with little change till 6 o’clock, when prover took a little supper, having to wash each mouthful of food down with water, being unable to moisten it otherwise on account of deficiency of saliva. For the past 2 hours has had occasional spasms of voluntary muscles, particularly those of extremities. 7 p.m., retired. 10, has been nervous and wakeful for the last 3 h.; hurried from bed and vomited profusely easy vomiting of a watery fluid, tasting bitter at first, nearly tasteless afterwards; during vomiting, very severe sticking pains in umbilical region; vomited about 5 m. and then staggered back to bed. 11, another similar attack of vomiting; very slight pain in temples and eyes; eyes feel swollen, and pain in eyes and temples slightly increases with each pulsation of heart. 12, hurried from bed by urgent desire to stool, followed by very copious watery stool coming with a gush. This stool relieved pain in umbilical region. 2 a.m., another copious stool. 3, fell asleep. 7, arose and immediately had another copious, watery stool. During n. had following symptoms: Spectral illusions; picking at bedclothes as if searching for something lost, with confused mutterings; tongue thick, cannot articulate distinctly; bright flashes before eyes immediately upon closing them. At times, while it seemed to him that he was fully conscious, saw persons at bedside and slowly reached out to grasp them, but his hand would pass through the object, and no sense of touch tell him that there was any material in the apparition; saw books and newspapers and tried to grasp these, but they would either recede or hand would come in contact with them and feel nothing. 8, ate a light breakfast; throat has been quite sore for the past 6 hours; pain upon swallowing. 12, m., has had slight vertigo at intervals during forenoon; pupils still dilated, with diplopia; upon looking at a newspaper letters seem to expand and contract with each pulsation of heart; can read but little. 1 p.m., secretion of saliva normal; symptoms all better. After this no new symptoms were noted, but prover continued absent minded at intervals for nearly a week afterwards. (Ibid.).
4. J. M. SMITH, nervo-sanguine temperament, light complexion, blue eye; habits regular; takes but little active exercise, labour being chiefly mental. Dec. 10th 1867. In usual health pulse 78. 11 a.m. took 2 gr. 1st dec. trit. 11:30, pulse slight feeling of fulness in throat. 11:45 pulse 130. 12, m., pulse 136; heart’s action greatly increased. 12.15, pulse 138. 12.30, dined; had great difficulty in swallowing food on account of non-secretion of saliva; food will remain in mouth for minutes without becoming moistened in the least, eyes considerably congested, but pupils have scarcely commenced to dilate; slight pressure in temples, feels better sitting or standing than lying down; vertigo caused by turning head quickly; feels dull and not inclined to move about or to converse; feeling in head as though temples were being pressed from without; pressure worse on right side. Tip and edges of tongue light red; tongue trembles when protruded from mouth; pulse 132; head feels hot; everything tastes salt. 1:15 pulse 112 lying down. Pulse has been taken until now when prover was standing. 1:30, pulse 112; mouth not so dry; hands hot and dry. 2, pulse 112. 2:30, pulse 112; is hot and feverish; pupils dilating, urine passed slowly and increased in quantity. 5:30, more dilated; pulse 102 other symptoms same; prover has appeared dull and stupid all afternoon. 6 p.m. ate light supper, having to wash food down with water; cannot estimate distances correctly; when asked to put his hand upon an object within his reach, he either reaches too far or not far enough; considerable vertigo; looks and acts as if he had been on a “spree; ” pulse 96 full and soft, has been full and soft soft for several h.; throat feels raw and sore. 8, has dull bruised feeling in temples and within past 10 m. severe pain in left eyeball; eyes and lids feel sore to touch; pupils dilated; cannot see to read; pulse 76 soft. 9, pulse 76; soreness of throat increasing till quite hoarse. 10, pulse 76. 11, pulse 76. 12, m., pulse 60., has had slight jactitation of muscles of leg; when he closes his eyes mind becomes confused and he sees all sorts of specters. At 12:30, retired. 7:30 a.m., arose feeling weary and unrefreshed; was very restless through night; dreamed of running horses, of playing base ball of amputating a man’s leg; saw dim shadowy forms sitting or standing by bedside or moving in air; same dull pressure in temples continues, but with no headache. Eyes a good deal congested, but pupils are not nor have they been much dilated; mucous membrane of the mouth dark red; throat sore; mouth not so dry as last night; slight vertigo; was awakened several times in n. by spasmodic jerkings of muscles of legs. No more prominent symptoms. Prover was dull and disclined to study for several days. (Ibid). 5 a. If gr. 1/160 to 1/120 be injected beneath the skin of a person in health, we shall observe, after 10 or 20 m., an acceleration of the pulse, and generally a slight increase in volume and power. If the pulse was previously slow and feeble, or intermitting, the change will be very decided. The acceleration will generally amount to 20 beats a m.; it will take place suddenly, and attain its maximum within 1 or 2 m. After being maintained for half an hour, a gradual decline takes place, and the heart soon returns to its usual state, and continues to beat as quickly and powerfully as before. Just as the pulse rises, a slight giddiness is often perceptible. Usually these will be the whole of the symptoms; but in weak and delicate adults a feeling of dryness of mouth and throat, and at the end of an h. or two, a slight dilatation of the pupil in a subdued light will be super added.
5 b. When gr. 1/96 is used, the acceleration of pulse will usually amount to 25 beats; the anterior part of the tongue and hard palate will be generally dry; and about the tip of the tongue the dryness will often be so complete as to render this part parched, rough and brown. At the end of 2 h., the pupils will have dilated from 1/10″ to 1/8″.
5 c. After the use of gr. 1/60, the acceleration of pulse will be found to range between 20 and 60 beats in different individuals. The rise is attended by considerable giddiness and waviness of the vision. The patient walks cautiously, and with an inclination to unsteadiness. After 20 or 40 m. he will complain, with some huskiness of voice, of great dryness of throat and mouth; and the anterior part of the tongue, or the whole of the dorsum, will be found dry, brown, and rough. The hard and (in many persons) soft palate also will be perfectly dry and glazed. There will be more or less somnolency, and sometimes a little flushing of the face. The dilatation of the pupils will amount to 1/7″ or 1/6″, according as they measured the 1/10″ or 1/8″ previously.
5 d. The effects of gr. 1/18 are as follows: – After 10 or 15 m., acceleration of pulse from 20 to 70 beats; no apparent change in volume, but a decided increase in the force of the cardiac contractions and of the arterial tone; a general diffusion of warmth, a slight throbbing or heaving sensation in the carotids, and a feeling of pressure under the parietal bones; giddiness, heaviness, drowsiness, or actual sleep, with a great tendency to dreamy delirium, and in women, slight occasional starting; complete dryness of the tongue, roof of the mouth, and soft palate, extending more or less down the pharynx and larynx, rendering the voice husky and often inducing dry cough and difficulty of deglutition; a parched state of the lips, occasional dryness of mucous membranes of nose and eyes, and increasing dilatation of pupils. After continuing about 2 h., the dryness of mouth is suddenly relieved by the appearance of a viscid acid secretion of an offensive odour, like the sweat of the feet. The mouth becomes foul and clammy, and a bitter coppery taste is complained of. As moisture thus returns to the mouth, the pulse observed to fall, and it now rapidly resumes its ordinary rate and character. At this time the pupils have reached their maximum dilatation, and measure about 1/5″; but when exposed to the brightest light, they will still contract to 1/4 [ So given by Dr. Harley, but the discrepancy is apparent.-EDS] 1/6, or even 1/8″, according to their original size. During the action of the medicine there will be a slight elevation of the temperature of the surface, rarely exceeding 1, and a still slighter and less appreciable rise of the internal temperature of the body. No difference will be observed in the rate of respiration, except (as may happen in a nervous woman) a little emotional excitement on the sudden accession of the giddiness. The patient occasionally heaves a deep sigh, and still oftener takes a prolonged yawn, as he sits still in a dull, apathetic, or drowsy condition. After the pulse has resumed its ordinary rate, and the mouth has moistened, the giddiness and drowsiness pass off, and the patient appears tolerably lively and brisk in mind and body. But he will himself continue to feel for some hours longer such languor of body and mind as will render him disinclined for, or even incapable of, active bodily or mental exertion. A little dimness of vision also remains, and the patient is unable to thread a needle, or even to read.
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.