16. The operation of mxxx of a Succus Belladonna, prepared by Messrs. T. Bell and Co., was noted in six adults, male and female. Belladonna action was fully developed in all within an hour. The pulse in one was accelerated only ten beats; in another twenty beats; in a third; 26; in ten others 40 beats; and in the sixth, a youth of twenty, the cardiac systoles were more than doubled, the pulse rising from 60 to 140 beats.
Associated with the acceleration of the pulse, the other effect of B. (see Atropinum, I, 5) were well developed, but in none of the patients was there any observable increase in the respiratory movements. The individual in whom the acceleration of the pulse amounted to 80 beats did not, throughout the 45 m. during which the maximum acceleration continued, outwardly manifest or express the slightest excitement. The respirations never exceeded 18, and at the time when the cardiac excitement first reached its acme, and afterwards, the inspirations numbered 15 or 16, and were natural and easy. (HARLEY, Old Vegetable Neurotics, p. 207.)
17. 9 a.m., health good, pulse 65, soft; took 10 drs. 2x in water soon sharp pains in right malar bone, extending to eye and temple. 9:10 pulsating in arms, face hot but not flushed. 9:25, pulsating headache, eructations. 9:30, neuralgic pains darting in back and thighs; pricking in throat when swallowing. 9:45, constant desire to swallow, mouth and throat dry; exercise aggravates headache; pulse 65, fuller and more round. 10, desire to sneeze; neuralgic pains in arms and neck. 10:15, after lemonade sharp pain in stomach and bowels for short time, followed by toothache on left upper molar. 10:40, very sleepy and languid; pulse 65. 11:30, violent palpitation of heart, and pulsating all over body, caused by slight exercise; headache returns; sneezing. 12, no appetite; considerable thirst; sight of food nauseates. 2 p.m., mind unusually bright, study easy; slight photophobia and sneezing when in sunlight. 4:30, much itching in various parts, rubbing causes erythema that remains; pulse 84; feels heated; head aches 5, called to urinate, scant and tardy, followed by scant stool. 6:30, pulse 96 before eating; head hot, feet cold. 8, congested heavy feeling in abdomen and pelvis; sexual excitement with desire (no exciting cause present). 9, called to stool, much straining, only flatus. 9:20, overcome with sleep; waked often during night by involuntary twitchings here and there. 2nd d., waked with pallor, headache, and debility; no appetite for breakfast; bowels sore and distended; early and copious stool. Occasional palpitation of heart during day, copious urine every 2 h. on the average all day (A. W. WOODWARD, M. D., communicated.)
18. J. HUKENBECK took on 28th March at 8 and 10 a.m., and at 1 and 4 p.m. 1/4 gr., and at 8 p.m. 1/2 gr. of ext. bell. made into pills with ext. tarax. and pulv. rad. althaeae. In afternoon the sight became so bad he could not see the largest letters; he also sometimes saw double. No other symptoms. -29th, 7 a.m., 1/2 gr. At 9 a.m., pupils greatly enlarged, sight quite extinct, iris insensible to light. At 4 p.m. sight somewhat restored; took 1/4 gr. -30th. 3 doses of 1/4 gr. The sight had returned by the m. and iris movable; after the 1st dose became blind and pupil immovable or dilated; thirst, dryness in mouth, and spasm of throat. No stool. -31st, m., twice 1/4 gr., afternoon and e., 1/4 gr. Pupils movable m., became dilated and remained so all day after 1st dose. Sight obscured, but not quite blind. Dryness of mouth, thirst, and constrictive feeling in throat all d.; 2 stools. -1st April. 1/4 gr. 4 times a d.; sight weak, dryness of mouth, thirst, 2 stools. (BOCKER, Beitr. ii, 257.)
19. Dr. BOCKER took on 19th Sept. at 4 p.m. 1/8 gr. extr. bell. No effect. -20th. 1/8 gr. at 6:40, 9:15 a.m., 2.47, 11, 11:15 p.m. At 10:30 a.m. slight pressive pain behind and above eyebrows, lasting till 11:45, a.m. when had flow of saliva into mouth, mucus in fauces hawked up, trachea and bronchial tubes covered with mucus, removed by hawking. After 3 p.m. eyes weak, objects seen as if through glass, not obscured. Pupils sensitive. At 6 p.m. sight better, still mucus in throat. At 4 p.m. the headache returned slightly, but went off after supper. -21st, 7 a.m., 1/4 gr. On rising right nostril somewhat stopped. 9:35, sneezing, followed by slight coryza. Stool rather loose, of a greenish colour. This green colour of faeces observed during whole proving and for some days after; e., eyes rather tired and weak. -22nd, 6:50 1/8 gr., 9.5 1/4 gr., 10:30 a.m. 1/8 gr., 3:15 1/4 gr., 5.5. p.m. 1/8 gr. At 10 a.m. some running from left nostril, sneezing, mucus in nose, trachea, and fauces, occasionally expectorated. This mucous secretion soon stopped, and dried to crusts in nostrils. Soft stool of greenish colour, as also on 23rd and 24th, on each day 2 loose green stools. The m. stool on the 25th was still green, but one in e. was quite normal. -26th. 6:55 and 9.6 1/4 gr., 11 a.m. 1/8 gr., 3:25 1/4, 4:45 and 10.5 p.m. 1/8 gr. At 9:10 a.m. normal stool preceded by flatus. After stool, transient tensive feeling below navel. 9:35 a.m., slight burning feeling in upper part of esophagus, must swallow frequently and with difficulty on account of spasmodic contraction of esophagus. The feeling lasted a long time, going off and returning. At 11 a.m. the constrictive sensation was worse, but never very bad. At 11:45 a.m. hawked up mucus several times and the constrictive feeling went off. Noon, hawking mucus. 5:30 p.m., dim before eyes lasting till e. 7:30, after supper nausea and inclination to vomit without actually vomiting, this ameliorated in open air after lasting 1/4 h. 11 p.m., normal stool. -27th, 6:45, 9.5 a.m., and 3.2 p.m., 1/4 gr. Stool of green faeces enveloped in reddish mucus. M., hawked up some mucus and had pressive pain about tonsils. 4:30 and 10:15 p.m., soft green stool. Afternoon, much fatigued by a longish walk, perhaps owing to having eaten little. All d. moderate appetite, the food had not such an agreeable taste and did not seem to digest as well as usual; feeling of fulness of in abdomen, especially just before a stool. Occasionally expectorated mucus, and felt as though catarrh was developing in throat. The soft palate, tonsils, and back of pharynx were swollen and inflamed; as this was the second time these symptoms had occurred after taking Belladonna, he was certain they were an effect of the drug. 7 p.m., flashes like lightning before right eye. -28th. Swallowing caused aching pain in fauces, the parts were still red and inflamed. Stool soft and green. On shutting eyes dull flashes of light. – 29th. Pupils rather dilated, m. and less sensitive to light. 10:30 a.m. when walking in open air black spots and stripes before eyes, rapidly appearing and disappearing. Throat still red and inflamed. 10 p.m., a scanty, normal, but rather greenish stool, felt very unwell and uncomfortable. -30th. 2 stools, less green. Throat still red, but not so much so. -1st Oct., two, 2nd, three greenish stools. Throat all right. Next day one normal stool; felt very comfortable and well. (Ibid.).
Poisonings
1. The subject of the poisoning was a child between two or three years of age, and the amount swallowed from 8 to 12 grs. of the extract. The following symptoms presented themselves upon seeing the case some 30 to 50 m. after the drug had been taken into the stomach: 1 a. “The expression of the countenance was that of a person in terror, pupils widely dilated and immovable, the tunica conjunctiva highly injected, and the whole eye prominent and preternaturally brilliant. The face, upper extremities, and trunk of the body exhibited a diffuse scarlet efflorescence, studded with innumerable papillae, very closely resembling the rash of scarlatina; the eruption terminated abruptly at the wrists and flexure of the thighs, the rest of the body retaining its natural colour. Skin hot and dry, and pulse much increased in force and frequency. 1 b. “The patient’s manner was apoplectic; respirations anxious, and attended with the brazen, stridulous sound of croup. A constant and unsuccessful attempt at deglutition was observable, and at every renewal of the attempt the muscles of the thorax and pharynx would be thrown into violent spasmodic action. Severe engorgement of the venous trunks was also present. The partial coma alternated with paroxysms of uncontrollable tendency to motion and rapid automatic movement, attended with convulsive laughter. No well-marked convulsions made their appearance, although, during the brief periods of sleep into which the patient, would fall, a slight subsultus of the muscles of the face and extremities was noted.”
1 c. Remedial measures, including free emesis, were now adopted, and the child soon recovered; during convalescence “the diuretic effect of the drug began to be experienced, the patient evacuating an enormous quantity of limpid urine.” (GRAY, N. Y. Journ. of Medorrhinum, 1851.)
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.