Baptisia



5. L. W. SAPP, aet. 21. After 1st dose (quantity unnamed) thirst and flashes of heat over face. General heat after going to bed; unusually sound sleep; in m. dull stupid feeling after breakfast; slight yellow coat on tongue; dull pain in abdomen on pressure; sallow appearance of countenance; bowels costive. Dull heavy aching in lumbar region on going to bed; dreams at night; next m. aching and dull heaviness in head after rising; tongue coated white and slightly congested; heat in forehead; rheumatic pains in right side; loss of appetite; pulse 70, rising about 2 p.m. to 100; chill over back while sitting by hot fire in forenoon; indescribable sick feeling all over; great languor; pains in stomach and feeling as if there were a hard substance there. In evening cramp in stomach and chills over back; great chilliness on going into open air; soreness in front part of head and on moving eyes. Deep sleep till 3 a.m.; on waking, flashes of heat and feeling as if perspiration would break out; soreness in region of liver. In m. swelling of epiglottis (?); soreness in brain, worse on stooping, and in muscles of neck; urine high coloured. (Ibid.)

6. J. E. SMITH, aet. 32. Took 3 doses (quantity not stated) at bedtime on Feb. 8th, 9th, and 11th. On n. of 8th heat and burning of lower extremities, so intense as to prevent sleep most of night; when asleep continual dreaming; bowels loose next m. (very unusual); slight dulness in brain all d. N. of 9th sleepless and restless; brain feels numb, with occasional stitches or shocks in various parts of head. Taking none on 10th felt nearly well on 11th. Dreamed all that n., in dreams triumphing over all opposition; in m. headache in front part of brain, inability to memorize as usual; stitching pain in cardiac end of stomach; throbbing in heart, as to be distinctly heard. Slept well at night; on 13th diarrhoea, loud borborygmi; pains in liver; soreness in front of thighs, worse after sitting awhile; darting pain in left knee and ankle; twitching in left deltoid, which has been constant since taking 1st dose, and to-day the same in left latissimus dorsi; slight headache, with bruised feeling in forehead; lachrymation on going into open air; general tired, bruised, sick feeling in all parts of body, but not very bad. On 14th slight erratic pains in various parts, bowels confined. On 15th, constipation severe, with haemorrhoids, quite troublesome: took dose of nux vom. On 16th bowels regular, haemorrhoids gone. (Ibid.)

7. Dr. CONRAD WESSELHOEFT, May 17th, 1869, took 3 dr. of 5th dil. at 7 a.m., and seems to have repeated dose daily, though he does not say so. During 1/2 h. after 1st dose aching pain of occiput, extending from ear to ear, and from nape to vertex. Same occurred on 20th, and from 19th to 21st he felt great drowsiness all day, going to sleep at any time, with great disinclination to mental exertion. On 22nd, taking no medicine, felt much better all d. [ DR. WESSELHOEFT writes:- “Soon after commencing, I found my physical condition unfitted for a reliable proving; but I herewith furnish what I have obtained.” Under these circumstances, we think it safest to print his results in small type, as not free from uncertainty.-EDS] (Pub. of Mass. Hom. Soc., iii, 456.) 8 a. Dr. BURT, in good health, took Oct. 12th, 10 dr. of tinct., at 10 a.m. At noon feeling of tightness across forehead, with pain over right eye. At 3 p.m., severe pain every few m. at cardiac end of stomach. At 4 p.m., 15 dr. Frontal sensations yet more pronounced, and frequent sharp shooting through bowels. At 8 p.m., 20 dr. Frequent pressive pain over r. eye; constant pain in region of gall-bladder, very severe when walking; dull pain in epigastrium, dull drawing pain in right groin; legs ache. At bedtime, 25 dr. Slept well till midnight, not at all since; dreamed of being chained down across mouth. Frequent epigastric pain, much increased by turning over, to which nevertheless he was constantly impelled; drawing pains in arms and legs; slight rumbling in bowels. Next m., tongue coated yellow along centre. At 10 a.m., 30 dr. Dull pressive pain in forehead, and sharp pains in both temples; dull pain in right hypochondrium and small of back; drawing pains in legs; slight rumbling in bowels, with mushy stool. At 2 p.m., 35 dr., and at 9, 40 dr. All afternoon and evening, constant and severe pain in epigastrium and right hypochondrium, of drawing character, worst when walking; pain causes numb feeling to pass all over body. Dull pain in forehead; drawing pain in calves. Urinated 40 oz., acid. Had a very restless n., with frightful dreams. On 14th, without further dose, continuance of dull pain in abdomen, involving umbilicus; tongue yellow; soft stool; urine 26 oz., acid. N. the same; but at 9 next m. felt quite well. Took 40 dr. at 9 a.m., and pains returned, extending to spine. At 5 p.m., 50 drs. Skin of forehead much contracted; severe drawing pains in right groin and testicle, and in right foot. Urine 28 oz., acid. At 9 p.m., 60 dr. Slept till 2 a.m., then could sleep no more; took 40 dr. at 4 a.m. A good deal of epigastric, pain all n., but felt quite well next m. Injected 10 drops under skin of left arm over biceps. In 10 m. skin of forehead felt as if it would be pulled to back part of head, with numb feeling of forehead and face; in 15 m., feeling as if he would vomit, with some shooting pain in left abdomen and loin; in 30 m., sensation as if forehead would be pressed in; slight abdominal pains as before; frequent gulping up of air; slight pressive headache, and dull pain in loins. At 2 p.m. took 100 dr. Dull heavy pressive headache; at times sharp pains in temples; heavy aching in stomach and liver, with very hot sensation there; soft stools. At 9 p.m., took 120 drops. Felt very weak and trembled a good deal. Pains continue, -that in right hypochondrium (gall-bladder) so severe on walking as to make this almost impossible; severe drawing pains in calves. Urine 42 oz., acid. At bedtime took 106 dr. Slept well till 2 a.m., then very restless till m., with frightful dreams. Next m., dull heavy frontal headache; constant dull umbilical aching, aggravated by deep inspiration; dull lumbar aching, very severe when walking; tongue yellow along centre; flat taste. At noon, 150 dr. Pains in head and right hypochondrium as before, quite sharp at times; and after 200 dr. at 3 p.m., frontal tightness as before.

8 b. Fearing that all medicinal properties of drug were not in tinct., he chewed this day (Oct. 17th) 30 grs. of green bark of root. Constant burning distress in epigastrium, with severe colicky pains in umbilical and especially in hypogastric region every few seconds, with rumbling in bowels and desire to vomit, but no nausea; soft stool; drawing pains in right hip and both calves. Urine 31 oz., acid. Slept till 3 a.m., after which could do so no more, but had to toss about constantly; dull, hard headache, very much worse on moving, with frequent sharp pains in temples; constant umbilical aching. At 4 a.m., 40 grs. In m., tongue yellow; flat bitter taste; tonsils congested; drawing pains in legs; all forenoon great distress in stomach and bowels, with desire to vomit; soft mushy stools. At 11 a.m. took 55 grs. At 1 p.m., eyes felt as if pressed into head, with great confusion of sight; could not fix objects at first look, everything seeming to be moving; difficult to keep eyelids open. Fauces and tonsils very much congested; great distress in epigastric and umbilical region, with much rumbling; cramp in calves on every movement; felt very weak and faint. 8 p.m., have had frequent pains in right temple; eyes smart and ache severely; tonsils same, with frequent desire to swallow, which produces pain in root of tongue; constant aching distress in abdomen as before, with rumbling, weakness, and faintness; papescent stool, with much mucus; legs tremble and ache. Urine 33 oz., acid. A very restless n. Next m. (19th), head, mouth, throat, and abdomen as before; also back and hips are stiff, and ache severely, with drawing pains in left leg. These symptoms continued all day; urine of whitish colour, neutral. Slept well. Tongue next m. still yellow; gums have been very sore for 2 d., they bleed freely on pressure; throat red; slight backache. Stool, absent yesterday, was natural to-day. Felt very gloomy for several d.

8 c. Oct. 28th, feeling well, at 10 a.m. took 4 grs. of baptisin. [ A ‘concentrated preparation,” made by extracting all active elements of plants, and recombining them in their proportions.-EDS.] Severe pain in region of gall-bladder, lasting 1 h.; constant slight umbilical pain; natural stool. Later in day took 6 grs. All evening, dull frontal headache, with smarting of eyes and drawing pain down nose; abdominal aching in hypogastrium also, and there at times very sharp. Slept well, and on 29th, feeling quite well, took 10 grs. at 10 a.m. Umbilical pain all day; in afternoon occasional drawing pains in right wrist and left ankle, and in evening constant dull frontal headache. Took 14 grs. Slept well till 1 a.m., then woke with severe cutting in hypogastrium and loud rumbling; after this very restless, with frightful dreams. Next m. tongue and mouth as before; soft papescent stools. Inguinal glands on right side very much swollen, and very painful when walking. (HALE, New Remedies, 2nd ed.)

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

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.