8. A young woman, 1 hours after preparing the 1x trit., began to feel sick at stomach; had pains in bowels and diarrhoea. Pains were in umbilical region, increasing until a movement took place, when relief would be obtained, followed by weak: gone ” feeling in bowels, lasting until another paroxysm of pain would come on. The diarrhoea was gushing, profuse and watery, and accompanied with headache and anorexia. Recovery in 15 – 20 hours (This train of symptoms was twice observed from the same cause.) (Ibid.)
POLYGONUM [Polyg].
Introduction
Polygonum acre, H. B. K. (P. punctatum, Ell.). Smart -weed. We give the provings made with this plant, because its properties appear to be nearly if not quite the same as those of the P. hydropiper, L. (Persicaria) which is there is good quite reason to believe the “anti-venereo” of Count Mattei’s Pharmacopeia EDS. Nat. Ord., Polygonaceae.1. a. Dr. Joslin chewed and swallowed, Sept. 12th, 1854, at noon, a leaf newly washed by rain. Taste was pungent, as of black pepper. At 12:30, momentary pain in right frontal, and instantly after in right occipital protuberance. At 10 p. m. ate another leaf. 13th. – Intolerable itching on left shin, a little above ankle, at 6 a. m.; severe aching in same, 4 in. below knee, 1 – 2 p. m.; aching in left shoulder, 11 p. m., in bed.
1 b. Of a tinct. of leaves made at this time, J. took, May 7th, 1856, 1 dr. in Zss of water at 1:30 p. m. 1:40, painful pressure on left palmar – radial side of right forearm, 1 1/2 in. above wrist, lasting 7 m. Dry cough in n., excited by tickling in upper front chest, with dry feeling in larynx when coughing. 8th. – At 1 p. m. repeated dose. Within first 1/4 hours sensation of heat in mouth and throat, commencing at tip of tongue and extending backwards. 1:40, cough excited by pricking, tickling sensation behind upper sternum. 9th. – E., pain, pressive and remittent, at anterior inner surface of head of left tibia (repeated next e.); interior of anus was studded with itching eminences, as from corrugation without contraction – a kind of haemorrhoidal tumour. They disappeared within 2 day (Hale, New Remedies, 2nd ed.)
2. Dr. C. C. Cameron, May 18th, 1865, took 5 dr. of tinct. at 2:30 p. m. Constriction of pharynx; deep heavy pains in umbilical region, relieved by pressure; headache in left frontal region; throbbing shooting pain in left wrist, extending to tip of middle finger. 19th. – At 10 a. m. and 12 m. took 10 dr.; at 1:15 p. m., 15 dr., latter dose quickly followed by sensation of heat in stomach, borborygmus and emission of flatus per anum; dry tickling sensation in throat. 2:15 p. m., copious liquid stool, followed by smarting sensation at anus (had had usual m. stool). 4 p. m., 25 dr.; borborygmus. 5, 50 dr.; fulness of head. 20th. – 9 a. m., 100 dr., followed immediately by burning pain in stomach; eructations; sticking pains in right hypochondrium; great pain in head, shifting from frontal to occipital region; shooting pain in left arm, from elbow to tips of fingers; pain in left knee, with feeling of great weakness; severe frontal headache. 21st. – Shooting pains in arms, back and legs, also acute pains in epigastric and umbilical regions; tongue coated yellow; loss of appetite. No action of bowels since 19th. Relinquished proving. (Ibid.)
3. Dr. W. E. Payne took, Nov. 23rd, at 8 p. m., 10 dr. of tinct. in Zss of water. 24th. – Took 10 dr. at 7 and 15 dr. at 10 a. m. Voided urine 3 times during n. (unprecedented). 25th. – 6 a. m., 15 dr. 8, slight vertiginous feeling passed over head, followed in a short time by sensation in arms and legs as of a galvanic current passing through them (momentary). 1 p. m., pain in right antrum, as if prolonged from a tooth – which was, however, quite sound: this recurred frequently. 10, took 20 dr. and retired for n. About midnight, awoke with severe lameness of muscles of left side of neck, extending to shoulder, and rendering movement painful. 26th. – At 7 a. m., 25 dr., and at 11, 30 dr. Pulsative headache, with sense of fulness; pulsative intermitting pains in left shoulder – joint, left lumbar region, and left side of hypogastrium; from these shifting suddenly to other parts – joints, &c. The pains were momentary, but oft recurring; one or more pulsations occurred before there was change of place; they reminded prover of a tremulous electrical movement. Saliva, which had been thick and scanty, now became abundant and thin. 10 p. m., took 30 dr., and retired for n. Lameness of muscles of neck continued, with same pulsative wandering pains. 27th. – 7 a. m., 30 dr. Took breakfast with usual appetite, but felt nauseated after it; then rumbling and movement in abdomen, as from approaching diarrhoea. Pulsative wandering pains in joints and abdomen. 3 p. m., 35 dr.; same pains. 9, took 35 dr. 28th. – 7 a. m., 40 dr. In m. stool, first part hard and painful; last soft. Pains continued while within doors, were scarcely felt in open air. 10 p. m., 45 dr. 29th. – 7 a. m., 50 dr. Pains as yesterday; 5 – 6 p. m. cutting pains in region of transverse colon. 10 p. m., 50 dr. 30th. – 7 a. m., 60 dr. Occasional pulsative pains in colon during 1 hours, and in prostate gland, occasionally extending along urethra, for 1/2 hours; pulsative pressive pain just above xiphoid cartilage; erratic pains continue; pain in region of left zygoma. Dec. 1st. – Besides usual pains, at 1 p. m. acute pulsative pain in left temple. Proving suspended. (Trans. of Amer. Inst. of Hom., 1859; from Ibid.)
4. a. Dr. N. M. Payne, Sept. 6th, took 6 dr. of tinct. at 4 p. m. In 1 hours sensation of scraping and dryness in throat; in 2 hours throbbing cutting pain in stomach. 10, 6 dr., followed by similar symptoms. 7th. – 6 a. m., 8 dr. In 2 hours same pain in stomach; nausea and rumbling in abdomen, with diarrhoeic stools. 10:30, 10 dr. In 3/4 hours pains in forehead and sides of head, extending into orbits; nausea, with slight pain in hypogastrium, rectum, and anus; pulse 65. 5 p. m., 1 dr. After 1 hours scraping in throat; increased desire to evacuate bladder; slight pains in sinciput; trembling of limbs; cutting, shooting pains in lower intestines, with pain in pit of stomach. After 2 hours, sharp cutting shooting pains in region of heart, extending through to left scapula; dull pain in extensor muscles of left arm, from shoulder to wrist; weariness and dull pains in legs, with tensive pain in calves; head feels dull; rumbling and griping in abdomen, with copious discharge of light clear urine (it was previously red and scanty). 10, took 10 dr. Later symptoms continued till he fell asleep, pains shifting from place to place. 8th. – 6 a. m., 15 dr. After 2 1/2 hours ineffectual urging to stool, with great quantity of foetid flatus; dulness of head and general lassitude; sharp pains in right shoulder – joint and spine of scapula, extending to elbow and trapezius muscles, with occasional shootings through occiput. In evening a scarlet eruption about 3 in. wide (like zona) appeared around waist, with itching, burning, and pain; sharp pain under right scapula, extending into chest and pit of stomach, with heavy beating of heart and throbbing of carotids; profuse perspiration and trembling of whole body from moderate exercise; continued nausea, as if from small intestines, extending thence to pit of stomach; extreme lassitude after taking a short walk; dull headache, with vertigo and trembling of limbs; intense heat and burning of feet, lasting 1 1/2 hours, and then sudden and uncomfortable coldness; urine scanty and dark red. 9th. – 6 a. m., 20 dr. Soon after, copious clear pale urine. During forenoon, itching and burning round waist. 10:30, repeated dose. Pain in left temple and left side of head, with dizziness and trembling of limbs; pain in stomach, relieved by food; voracious appetite.
4 b. From 10th to 13th, no medicine and no symptoms. 14th. – 7 a. m., 20 dr., and 11 a. m., 30 dr. Burning and scraping in throat; pain in epigastrium and lower bowels, with diarrhoeic stools, discharged with considerable force; diuresis; trembling of limbs; aching in stomach and abdomen all day 10 p. m., 20 dr. Restless sleep, with unpleasant dreams; woke unrefreshed. 15th. – 7 a. m., 30 dr. Appetite greatly increased; dull headache all m.; constant urging to stool; papescent stools, and abundant flow of urine; frontal headache, with darting pains through temples, in orbits, knees, and legs. 3 p. m., 30 dr. 16th. – 7 a. m., 30 dr. Increased appetite for breakfast; pains in left spermatic cord and testicle, continuing all day, with soreness of testicle; at same time occasional darting pains in same organs on right side. Headache p. m., with cold feeling in stomach; pains in knee – joints, extending to ankles. 17th. – 7 a. m., 30 dr. Continual pain in testicles and cord; headache; tensive feeling in stomach; sensitiveness to cold; feet alternately cold and hot. 10 a. m., 30 dr. Two hours after, urging to urinate, with smarting in urethra. 19th. – 7 a. m.., 20 dr. Headache a. m. and after dinner. 4 p. m., 40 dr. Increased flow of urine, with irritation in neck of bladder and smarting in urethra; when micturating, pain in prostate; still pain in testicles and cord; itching and burning under eyes; rumbling in abdomen, with desire for stool; dull pain in rectum; burning in prostate. 10, 40 dr. Smarting and scraping in throat; uneasy sleep and dreams. 20th. – 7 a. m., 40 dr. Hunger; pain in lower abdomen 1/2 hours after eating; itching at urethral orifice and around glans penis, and constant desire to urinate; copious flow of straw – coloured urine. 10, 50 dr. Smarting and scraping in throat; constricted feeling at neck of bladder while urinating, with pain in testicles and cord; skin of whole body dry; alternation of chills and heat; itching and stinging of prepuce; pains in epigastric region after dinner, with dull headache; pains in hypogastrium and rectum, with rumbling in these parts proceeding from below upwards, and insufficient stool; itching under eyes; pain in neck of bladder. 4 p. m., 50 dr. In 1/2 hours severe lancinating pains in left hypochondrium while walking; smarting raw feeling in pituitary membrane, as from a cold; dreamed of having a severe headache, and woke with head aching violently; painful cutting and feeling of strangulation in neck of bladder when urinating, lasting a long time after; pain in bladder. 21st. – 7 a. m., 50 dr. Rumbling and gurgling in lower abdomen, proceeding upwards, with desire for stool; dull throbbing or pulsative headache; cold feeling in region of transverse colon and stomach, with nausea; weariness of whole body; trembling of limbs; cutting pain in lower bowels, with constant urging to stool, and frequent discharge of flatus; throbbing pain in left inguinal glands, lasting 1/2 hours; great thirst for cold water, yet water produces nausea. 10 a. m., 50 dr. Appetite diminished; constant nausea. P. m., straining at stool, with mucous jelly – like discharge; yellowish – green stools; feeling of strangulation at neck of bladder; irritation in schneiderian membrane, as if from cold in head; burning in stomach and abdomen. 9 p. m., tenesmus with nausea; pain in neck of bladder; itching and burning round waist, with fine red eruption; laborious and fatiguing dreams; limbs feel bruised. 22nd. – Voracious appetite for breakfast; nausea after eating, as if proceeding from abdomen; griping pains in abdomen, with loose stools and painful urination. 1 p. m., 50 dr. In 2 hours burning in stomach; continued rumbling and pain in abdomen, with tenesmus and hard lumpy faeces; cold feeling in pit of stomach; pains in left spermatic cord and testicle; feeling of excessive debility. 23rd. – Took 50 dr. at noon and at 5 p. m. Burning in stomach, throat, and fauces; dull pain in forehead; aching in lower extremities; diuresis; cutting pain in left chest; sore throat; tongue feels swollen; burning all the way from roots of tongue to pit of stomach. 24th. – 7 a. m., 60 dr. In 1 hours pain in sacrum and bladder, with desire to urinate, not relieved by voiding large quantities; frequent diarrhoeic stools; pains in hypogastrium, rectum, and anus. 3 p. m., 60 dr. Sharp cutting pains in stomach and intestines; burning and scraping in fauces; aching in knees. After 2 1/2 hours burning in chest, with cold feeling in pit of stomach and shooting pains there; pain and soreness in left testicle, extending along cold; pain around left hip – joint, with aching in loins; cutting pains apparently extending along ureters down to bladder; burning tingling in whole body, most in legs and feet, forearms, and hands; frequent sneezing; pulsative pains in hips and loins, with ineffectual urging to stool and tenesmus; lancinating pains through whole abdomen. 25th. – 7 a. m., 60 dr. Great weariness in walking; constant rumbling in abdomen; dull pain in rectum, profuse pale urine. 5 p. m., 30 dr. Shooting pains in stomach; alternate constipation and diarrhoea. (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.