4. Mrs. L. Sauvage, aet. 25, in good health, took gr. 3 1/2 of crude plant at 7:30 a. m. 7:45, sharp pain in sacrum. 8, pulse 110; uneasy feeling about heart. 8:30, pulse 95; nausea, quite persistent. 9, pulse very changeable; vomiting; copious urination. 10, pulse 80; tired bruised feeling all over; vertigo, which continued all d. Troubled dreams at n. Next day, pulse variable, at 7:30 a. m. took 10 gr. 8, could not eat breakfast; sharp pain in sacrum. 9, sharp pain in left chest with every breath. 10, copious urination. 11, vertigo. 12, headache at vertex; nausea; cold sweat about waist. Two day later, took 30 gr. at same hours 8, lame backache. 8:15, pulse 92, changeable. 9, headache at vertex. 9:30, sick all over; very tired, pain in bowels. 10, pulse varies from 98 to 80, even when she is quiet; this continues all d. Restless sleep at n. After 2 day more repeated last dose with similar effects; also feeling as if she had taken cold; sore bruised sensation all over. She was feverish towards n., but had no thirst. (Trans. Amer. Inst. of Hom., 1885, p. 162.)
II. 1. Dr. R. D’Ary has noticed in some cases, from the administration of C., an intense redness and soreness of the tongue, which looked like raw beef, granular and quite clean, patient at same time complaining of tenderness of stomach. (N. A. Journ. of Hom., Jan., 1886, p. 197.)
CROTON (see vol.ii, p.447)
II.. b. Prof Schuby narrates that when semina tiglii were handed round, one of his students swallowed a small particle, about 0.66 grms., at about 8 a. m. At first taste was not disagreeable; but after a few m. it became like that of a mouldy walnut, and he spat it out. After 10 m., during which he had constantly to swallow, he felt burning and scratching at posterior part of tongue, and all down pharynx, with sensation of heat. In 15 20 m. this sensation extended down oesophagus to stomach. Severe intolerable pains of drawing character now attacked the empty stomach (he had not yet breakfasted), with nausea and cold sweat on forehead. Intestinal peristalsis was strongly excited, and about 9 a. m. he had severe colic, with constant desire to defecate. In going home he had to stop at a tavern to relieve himself; evacuation rapid and watery. To remove burning in throat he ordered a light breakfast, but could not eat it, as he had again to hurry to the closet. Going home he had to stop again at another place, and during forenoon he had about a dozen evacuations. (Allg. hom. Zeit., May, 1889.)
CUPRUM (see vol.ii, pp.465,753)
34. a. April 17th, 1886. Marion O., aet. 16. For several day has complained of pain in lumbar region, worse at rest, better on motion. All last n. had fever with severe pain in bowels, and since 2 a. m. has had several loose stools. At 10 a. m., temp. 101 o. Complains of headache made worse by every motion. Thirst with dry parched lips. Some pain in bowels and back. (Bryonia) 18th. – No fever or headache; menstruation appeared this a. m., one week late, dark and painful. Stools continued profuse and frequent during day yesterday, but has had only two since 3 a. m. Tongue white. Bad taste in mouth. (Pulsatilla) 19th. – A good deal of pain all yesterday. Frequent stools, especially from 4 to 8 p. m. – none since 9 p. m. Slight pain in abdomen this a. m. (Lycopodium) 20th. – Only three stools for last 24 h. Weak. Temp. 97 o. White tongue. Very restless. Frequent thirst; drinking only a little at a time. (Arsenicum) 21st. – Feels much better. No pain or diarrhoea. (Continue.) 23rd. – Languid. White tongue. Thirst. Dry lips. No stool for 3 day (Bryonia) 26th. – Gains strength. Again complains of pain in back and shoulders when at rest, better on motion. R. shoulder droops a little, and scapula prominent. (Rhus.) 30th. – No satisfactory movement of bowels yet. Tired and languid, but less pain. (Bryonia) May 3rd. – Does not gain much strength. Bowels still constipated. (China ars. 3x, and hydrast. 1x gtt. v in half a glass of water in a. m.) 7th. – Improves steadily. (Continue chin. ars. 3x.) Constipation relieved. 34 b. Lucy O., sister of case a. April 21st, has felt weak and languid for some time, with backache and pains in limbs, worse at rest. Better by motion. Now has colic, and thin fecal stools relieving pain. (Coloc.) 22nd. – Has had 5 – 6 stools in last 24 hours, preceded by griping pains. Stools of bloody mucus, followed by entire relief of pain. This a. m. unsuccessful urging. (Continue colocynth every 2 hours, and take one dose of nux 30th n. and m.) 23rd. – No stool for last 24 h. Unsuccessful urging. No pain. Continue nux to – day, and then return to phos. acid, which she had been taking previous to attack for frequent dull headaches aggravated by any mental exertion, and for general languor and indisposition for exertion either physical or mental. 26th. – Improves in strength. Head much clearer and stronger. No stool. (Continue phos. acid, with an occasional dose of bry.) 30th. – Much better. Constipation relieved. (Phosphorus acid.) May 7th. – Feels better, but complains of heaviness in occiput, and deficient memory. (Gelsemium) 34 c. May 1st, Mr. O., father of a. and b. Fever and general muscular pains last n. This a. m. four loose stools without much pain, but now has pain in abdomen and slight headache. Tongue white. (Podophyllum) 2nd. – Frequent stools yesterday, with a good deal of pain and severe headache. Four stools in n., nearly free from pain this a. m. Head sore, and painful on motion. Stools like frothy molasses. Pain uninfluenced by stools. (Bryonia and coloc.) 3rd. No headache or pain. Four stools in last 24 hours (Continue bry. and coloc.) 4th. – No stool since last n. and free from pain. Discharged.
34 d. Mrs. O. May 3rd. – Tired out. Aches all over. (Rhus.) 4th. Feels much better. Intermittent pain in bowels. (Continue rhus., and change to coloc. if necessary for pain.) 6th. – Severe gastralgia; pain like a toothache. No nausea or flatulence, no diarrhoea. (Nux.) 7th. Very little pain since yesterday, none this a. m. (Continue nux.) 8th. – Free from pain. Gains strength. (Continue nux.) 9th. – No pain, but feeling of weakness in stomach with flatulence. (China sulph. 1x.) 11th. – Return of gastralgia. Very nervous and despondent. Frequent painless urination. (Ignatia every 2 hours; continue chin. sulph. ter in die.) 12th. – Improving. Continue medicine. 13th. – Gains strength slowly. Some flatulence. (China ars.) 27th. – No severe pain in bowels, but feels as though it might come on at any time. (Cuprum 30th, and take coloc. if pain recurs.) 31st. – Improves. Continue cupr. 30th four times daily.
Having in vain examined the sewerage, water supply, milk supply, &c., for a cause of these repeated attacks, I at length requested to see their tea – kettle, which proved to be of copper, heavily coated on the inside with verdigris. I then examined for the first time the gums of the family, and found them all spongy, swollen and bleeding easily. I now felt justified in giving a decided diagnosis of copper poisoning. 34 e. Miss Marion O., member of same family, complained of similar colicky pains as characterised the attacks of the other members. Nux was prescribed. 14th. – Rather less pain. It comes in paroxysms with hot sweat. Bowels tender. Three loose stools. (Cuprum 30th.) 15th. – Severe pain, almost constantly; frequent brown watery stools during day yesterday, but none since 5 p. m. Not much pain this a. m. A good deal of tenesmus after stools. (Coloc.) 16th. – Much better. Only two stools for last 24 hours, less pain, still frequent ineffectual urging. (Coloc. and nux.) 17th. – Continues to improve. Continue medicine. 21st. – Free from pain in bowels, but constant pain in back and legs, which feel ” heavy and dead,” knees give out on attempting to walk. Is very weak, can only sit up a short time. (Cuprum 30th.) 24th. – Thick, slimy, bloody mucus in mouth and throat a. m. Continue cupr. 30th. – Gains strength, less nervous. Much less pain in back and limbs, but has cramps in calves when trying to walk. Gums less spongy and bleed less. Continue cupr. 30th. 31st. – Improves in strength. No backache. Occasional pain in abdomen, especially when fatigued. No more cramps in calves, but pain in ankles when tired. Continue cupr. 30th every 3 hours (E. H. Linnell, Hahn. Monthly, May, 1888.) 35. (No connection with preceding cases.) June 8th. Mr. G. for a year or more has had repeated attacks of severe colic and diarrhoea. Has now a good deal of backache. Thinks he strained it in gymnasium. (Rhus.) 14th. – Back better. (Continue rhus.) 6th. – Slight indigestion. Distress soon after eating. Bowels a little loose. (Nux.) 28th. – No appetite, languid. (Bryonia) Nov. 23rd. – Last few days again slight attacks of colic, backache, and neuralgic pain in eyes. Cuprum 30th, n. and m.
In this last case a copper tea – kettle, not corroded as in other cases, but containing a fine deposit of metallic copper on the bottom and sides of kettle, was found in constant use. The water contained in the kettle was analysed by a chemist, and found to contain copper in sufficient quantities to be poisonous. The use of the kettle was given up, cup. 30th continued, and the patient has had no return of colic or backache. (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.