15. Dog had 2 oz. of solution B. introduced into stomach. Passed faeces almost directly. In 1 h. respiration was affected; salivation, coryza, and retching ensued. About 3rd h. symptoms had subsided. He had 2 oz. every second or third d. for a month, i.e. time was given for irritation of each dose to subside. He got very thin, was much purged, and acquired great appetite. (Ibid.)
16. Eight drops were placed on tongue of small dog; it made efforts to reject poison, fumes of which were disengaged from mouth. In a few m. respiration doubled in rapidity, inspiration accompanied with mucous rattle, and expiration with wheezing and hiccup. Respirations gradually got slower, and heart’s action irregular. Passed faeces repeatedly, and retched violently. Mouth and eyes watered; pupils dilated; animal, after these symptoms had subsided (after lasting 1 h.), became greatly depressed. (Ibid.)
17. Bromal hydrate irritates eyes and produces running at nose. It has a narcotic action like chloral, but causes more excitement and less profound sleep. It has a more powerful paralysing action on the heart, and is poisonous in smaller doses, than chloral. It generally causes salivation, and profuse secretion from the bronchial mucous membrane, accompanied by congestion. In toxic doses it produces cyanosis, dyspnoea, and death with convulsions which are probably due, in great measure at least, to clogging of the respiratory passages. (BRUNTON, op. cit.)
18. The result of a series of experiments on rabbits, guinea-pigs and dogs, in which the hydrate of bromal was subcutaneously injected in doses varying from about 2 to I5 gr., were, with slight variation in regard to time of appearance, as follows: – restlessness and contraction of the pupil occurred immediately after the injection; in the course of a few minutes the oral and nasal mucous membranes became hyperaemic; the animal then twinkled the eyelids, keeping the eyelids a moment closed, and, though never falling into a sound sleep, often gave a sudden jerk as if waking out of a dream. In several cases there was a flow of the secretions from the mouth and nose. The animal then became anaesthesized, the respiration very frequent, and dyspnoea and cyanosis followed. The pupils became expanded, the movements of the animal uncertain, and the hypnotic effect more pronounced. It squatted down and rolled over, recovering its former position after a few seconds. Pinching and pricking were not felt in any part of the body, though reflex action occurred. Dyspnoea became more violent, and the animal died in convulsions; or the respiratory movements and pulse gradually sank till death took place, usually preceded by convulsions. Anaesthesia generally supervened with medium doses a considerable period before the commencement of dyspnoea, but with large doses cutaneously, or even subsequently to the occurrence of the dyspnoea. In accordance with the dose administered, the heart after death was either relaxed with dark red coagula in the cavities, or tetanically contracted. (STEINAUER, Pract., v, 117.)
19. STEINAUER considers (Centralbl. f. d. med. Wessensch., 1874, No. 26) that the experiments hitherto made to determine the question whether in the preparations of bromine the B. exerts a specific action, are insufficient, because in them the difference in the action of bromide of potassium and of sodium has alone been considered. In his researches, instead of these salts he used hydrobromic acid, bromated acetic acid, especially mono- bromo-acetic acid, the bibromised being less adapted on account of easy destructibility. Bromo-benzol and bromo-benzoic acid, hydrobromic acid, and the bromated acetic acid (as well as the salts of the latter), proved themselves to be poisonous. In doses of from 7 to 15 gr, they proved fatal to rabbits in 1/2 h. Hydrobromic acid in a few m. produced distinct effects on heart and respiration. At first frequency of pulse fell to some extent, whilst respiration increased in frequency, and the animal at the same time became more quiet. After a little while voluntary power was lost, and soon after there was diminution and ultimately complete loss of reflex activity. Then occurred irregularity in inspiration and cardiac beats; still later remarkable diminution of both, and death, preceded, in warm-blooded animals, by convulsions. P.M. examination showed arrest of the heart’s action in diastole, and neither mechanical nor electrical excitation, directly applied, called forth more than a few slight contractions. The sequence of symptoms, in poisoning with the monobromised acetic acid, was very similar, except that the heart was arrested in systole; artificial respiration proved useless, and in no respect altered course of symptoms. Neither section of vagus nor paralysis of terminal branches of cardiac nerves by nicotine prevented fall of pulse in frequency, and S. hence concluded that the vagi were not acted upon by the poison. From results of other experiments he is inclined to think that it causes paralysis of cardiac muscle with coincident affection of excitomotor cardiac centre. Mono-brom-benzol and mono-brom- benzoic acid, in both of which the B. is strongly combined with the other molecules, exhibited a mode of action that differed little from the above. (Ibid, xiii, 272.)
20 a. GLOVER made an injection of hydrobromic acid into jugular of terrier. Symptoms: – strong, quick, and irregular action of heart, curious succession of fits of panting, at intervals of 3 or 4 seconds, lasting each time for 10 or 12 seconds. This went on 20 m. After 2 h. was quite well.
20 b. Injection into stomach of 3ss of solution (90 minims of B. in 2 oz, water being converted into hydrobromic acid). Effects: – restlessness; quickened respiration and circulation; great uneasiness; sharp cry now and then; loss of power over voluntary muscles; discharge of urine; slight convulsions; death in 10 m. P. M. Lungs congested, infiltrated with frothy serum, with a few apoplectic spots in their tissue; bladder full of urine; whole mucous membrane of cardiac portion of stomach showed uniform grey erosion, was much softened, and had epithelium removed. (Loc. cit.)
21. Bromoform was introduced by same into stomach of rabbit, and produced quickened respirations, short dry cough. Heart’s action quick, at first irregular, then very feeble. A few convulsive movements of limbs, cough changes to husky expiration and death after large dose. After death voluntary muscles contracted strongly; heart without motion, did not contracted when irritated. Blood in both cavities somewhat frothy and mixed with large masses of coagula. In left ventricle, mass of clear coagulated lymph. Lungs in many parts light purple colour, but lower border almost black. Congested spots scattered everywhere. Towards lower part the tissue broken down in many parts, and saturated with blood. Bronchi contained much frothy serum, and their lining membrane was deeply injected. Nervous system showed no morbid appearances. (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.