Experiments on animals
1. At 11 a.m. 4 centigrams of the chloride of gold dissolved in right grams of distilled water were injected into the jugular vein of a large and strong dog. 15 m. afterwards the respiration was difficult and noisy, there was sighing, suffocation, and vomiting of a very small quantity of white matter floating in foam. These symptoms increased until in 1 h. and 5 m. the animal was in a state of great distress, uttered plaintive cries, and only breathed with the greatest difficulty. At each expiration it made a very loud noise; it remained, however, able to walk, although it kept lying down, and often changed its position. At 4:30 all these symptoms continued with increased intensity, and 1 h. afterwards it died. Examination showed the lungs livid, except in a few small patches, which were rose coloured: the lung tissue was dense, hepatised, gorged with blood, and non-crepitant. Placed in water they sank, and only the rose-coloured patches floated and were slightly crepitant. The mucous membrane of stomach and intestines was healthy. (ORFILA, Toxicologie, sub voce.)
2. A small dog was forced to swallow 50 centigrams of the salt dissolved in 30 grams of water. The animal vomited 3 times in the following 6 m.; the matters vomited were almost all liquid and scanty. After 20 m. it brought up much frothy saliva. Two d. afterwards it ate with appetite, ran about, and tried to escape. On 4th d. it began to refuse food, became thin and weak, and died on n. of 7th d. after ingestion of poison. The mucous membrane of the stomach was found to be ulcerated, of a clear red colour, and apparently suppurating at more than twenty points. The lungs appeared but little altered. (Ibid. There are 2 similar experiment.)
3. Three drops of a 1 to 16 solution of A. mur. were given daily, for a long time, to two dogs. After dose they had much frothing at mouth frequently lasting hours, vomiting and dejected humour. Excrements black coloured. Both dogs grew fatter. When large doses were given they had severe coryza and violent cough, which had a croupy sound and as though something stuck in their throat. (N. Zeitschr. f. hom. Kl., iv.).
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.