3. On July 13th, at 11 a. m., H. J. H -, aet. 75, consulted Mr. T. Pridgin Teale with reference to his eyes. H. J. H – is suffering from slow – forming senile cataract, and on several occasions atropine has been used for purposes of examination. On this occasion, however, two discs, each containing 1/200 of a grain of sulphate of duboisin, were placed in the eyes. Very shortly afterwards patient complained of slight giddiness, became very fidgety, and was advised to remain sitting. In about 20 m., the pupils being fairly but not fully dilated, the necessary examination took place, H. J. H standing during the proceeding. A few m. later he experienced a decided feeling of weakness and loss of control over the legs, great dryness of mouth, with exceedingly bitter taste. Fancying, however, the fresh air would do him good, he refused to remain, and elected to walk home. He had not gone far before it was evident that persons in the street regarded him as decidedly ” under the influence of liquor; ” his speech became husky and indistinct; he walked, talked, and behaved like one slightly intoxicated. Later, when at home, the symptoms progressed; complete inability to stand without assistance, or to recognise the position of objects, partly due, no doubt, to paralysis of accommodation, but also due to visual hallucination. For example, the patient would suddenly sit on the ground, imagining a chair was ready to receive him; drop a glass in mid – air instead of placing it on the table; and grasp in the air above his head for his watch, which had been taken from him. With difficulty he was got to bed, constant attendance being necessary to keep him quiet; there was incessant movement, with carphology, a suspicious way of glancing beneath the bed – clothes and behind the back. A few moments, when left to himself, sufficed for the whole room to be upset; towels, brushes, and shoes were placed in the bed, and boots on the dressing – table; this entertainment ended by a somewhat severe fall on the floor, whence he was unable to raise himself without assistance. This incessant activity was accompanied by a flow of words, sentences strung together without any apparent connection, a return of memory to things which happened years ago; throughout, an air of fun and humour, the symptoms those of childishness rather than any attempt at violence. The pulse was slow; the patient, entirely ignorant of what was the matter with him, imagined it was quite dark, whereas it was a bright summer afternoon. Four hours after the commencement, a small injection of morphine was given, and the patient became quieter, dozing apparently for a few seconds at a time. Three hours later he obtained an hours ‘s quiet sleep, and, after some light nourishment, 3 hours ‘s sleep, after which his mind appeared quite clear again. He was entirely unconscious of all that had passed; a feeling of weight in the head and general upset lasted for several d. The urine, before and after, was normal. (Chadwick, Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1887, i, 327.)
4. J. J. McD -, aet. 49, with a rheumatic history, has just recovered from an attack of iritis plastica, which left extensive posterior synechiae in the eye. In order to break them up I instilled (April 6th) two dr. of a 1 per cent. solution of duboisin sulphate. Twenty m. later his mouth and throat felt dry, as though he would be thirsty. 8th, 2.23 p. m. – Instilled two dr. eserin, 1 per cent. solution, and as much more 9 m. later. In about 15 m. a sensation of squeezing together in the ball, and a feeling as though the lids were drawn. In about 15 m. from the first instillation, the pupil, from being irregular in shape, averaging about 3.5 mm. in diameter, had contracted to a circle 2 mm. across. At 3.07 p. m. and at 3.53, two dr. of dubois. were instilled. About 10 or 15 m. later he was going home from the dispensary, and upon turning to the right suddenly fell to the left, overcome by intense confusion, vertigo and weakness. On proceeding he found that he staggered as if drunk, and had to concentrate his energy and look directly ahead, for upon looking to one side there was a disposition to fall towards the opposite side. Going down stairs or kerbstones was difficult; every step jolting his back as if he had (to use his own expression) ” stepped down from the top of a house.” He was deathly pale; felt exhausted, as from want of sleep; and experienced great confusion, with a sense of lightness throughout the body and head. The tongue felt ” flat,” and he could not articulate distinctly (paralysis?). The next day he awoke with a very severe pressive pain in the lumbar region on each side, which gradually disappeared as he moved about. 10th. – He felt cold and chilly; wanted to wear extra clothing, which made him feel comfortable. In the afternoon Dr. Searle instilled more dubois., and a few moments later he felt very drowsy; the symptoms of confusion, lightness, drowsiness, thirst, and weakness were again experienced, but relieved by a cup of strong coffee. 11th. – Tension slightly less than before; still not minus. 2:30 p. m., instilled one dr. of eserin. In 5 m. mouth dry, slight vertigo. Six m. later a drawing, fluttering sensation in the ball, and spasmodic twitching of the m. orbicularis palp.
I should add that the dubois. also caused a soreness in the right side of the nose; as if the drug irritated the mucous membrane as the tears escaped through the lachrymal duct. (J. L. Moffat, N. Y. Medorrhinum Times, 1885.)
5. A healthy girl of 18 had an exceedingly minute piece of the sulphate held a few moments in fold of lower lid till melted. A few m. after I called her to examine state of pupils, and she complained of feeling dizzy. Soon after my attention was arrested by the dark flush on her face. She was then lying on a sofa, and was mildly delirious, pulse 132. She had tendency to pick at surrounding objects, had one or two slight drawings up of arms, and was very restless. Temp. under tongue was 100.2 o. No treatment was instituted, and in 1 1/2 hours pulse had fallen to 100. She now became again more excitable, and tried to get up off sofa: on being told to keep quiet she would at once lie down, but in a few m. more would try again to rise and move off. Gr. 1/8 of morphia was now given subcutaneously, and in about 20 m. she went gently to sleep. An hours later she was roused, and could walk up to her ward with little assistance. She there again fell asleep, and about 1/2 hours subsequently awoke rational. The nurse reported, however, that once or twice during n. she got out of bed, but lay down immediately on being admonished by her. Next day she had entirely recovered. (W. F. Norris, Amer. Journ. of Medorrhinum Sci., 1879, I, 447.)
6. Of a 4 gr. to oz. sol. 3 – 4 dr. were instilled into left eye of a lady patient. In 4 m. near vision was growing poor, and in 5 m. patient complained of intense fainting feeling and slight nausea. Faintness, with ” strange ” feeling in head, continued very marked for 15 – 20 m., when faintness lessened, but strange feeling remained, and drowsiness came on. In 30 – 45 m. there was dryness of mouth and throat, though not very marked; and chilliness was complained of. During next day there was marked faucial and oral dryness, some of the strange feeling in head, and flushing of face. On 2nd day after she was nearly well. (W. W. Seely, Cincin. Lancet and Obs., 1879, p. 125.)
7. M. Gubler injected 1 milligr. into a young man labouring under tuberculosis. In a few m. there was vertigo, then dryness of throat, then slowing of pulse. After this patient fell into a sort of stupor, analogous to that caused by stramonium. This lasted many h. It was not sleep, for if patient was questioned, he replied, though with difficulty. He remained seated on his chair, and appeared indifferent to what going on about him, and without energy to move. (Bull. Gen. de Theridion, xciv, 426.).
Experiments on animals
1. I injected hypodermically gr. 1/3 of sulphate under the skin of a frog weighing 21 grm. In 25 m. frog was a little weak; this weakness progressed, but was always far from complete, and disappeared entirely in 5 h. Throughout the experiment the heart beat well at 48. The same dose of sulphate of atropia given to a frog weighing 19 grm. caused complete paralysis in 25 m., persisting more than 8 h. The heart fell to 24 per m., and became very weak, and breathing was arrested. In another frog, weighing 22 grm., we gave 4/25 gr. of sulphate of duboisia. In an hours the frog was so weak it could only just crawl. It recovered completely in 3 h. The heart beat strongly throughout the experiment at 36 per m., and the breathing never ceased. We gave the same dose of sulphate of atropia to a frog of the same weight. In an hours the frog was completely paralysed, and 9 hours afterwards the animal could not crawl. In 24 hours it had recovered, but was slightly tetanic. The heart fell to 20 and became weak, and the breathing ceased.Atropine, therefore, paralyses far more powerfully the motor nervous system, the heart and respiration, in frogs than duboisine. (Ringer, Pract., Oct., 1879.)
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.