38. a. Henry M -, a strong, healthy man, aet. 50, was recommended by a friend to take a decoction of burdock leaves to relieve some fancied illness. The friend, not being acquainted with the appearances of burdock, gathered in its stead the leaves of stramonium; of these the patient made a strong decoction and took about 24 oz. at 10 p. m., Thursday. His bed – fellow was awakened about 11 by the restlessness of the patient, found him unable to speak, and suspecting that he was seriously sick, I was sent for. I first saw him at midnight, and found him tossing about in bed, and it seemed impossible for him to keep quiet, but there were no convulsions. His articulation was imperfect, and it was impossible for him to utter any words. The face, arms and chest were covered with a red rash, the colour of that of scarlatina. The tongue was dry and swollen. Pulse 170, and strong; resp. 37, and principally abdominal; temp. 104 o. The eyes were open and staring; the pupils were not fully dilated, and the retinae sensitive to light. The skin was hot and dry, and anaesthetic. The hands were swollen. The breathing was stertorous. Previous to my visit mustard and warm water had been given, but without producing emesis. I gave ext. ipecac. fluid., Zjss, and zinci sulph., gr. xxx, but these drugs did not produce vomiting. An additional 40m of the fluid extract were given, but without result. As no stomach – pump could be obtained, attempts were made to pass Toswill’s stomach – tube, but it could not be forced down the oesophagus. From the quantity of the poison taken, and the time that had elapsed since his taking it, I judged that death was inevitable. Morphia was given in large doses hypodermically, with the result of reducing the pulse to 120 and the respiration to 28. Brandy was administered by the mouth. I saw the patient again 2 hours after, and the same treatment was carried out. At 10 a. m., Friday, he was seen in consultation with Dr. William Blundell, who endorsed my opinion and thought that death would shortly ensue. Morphia was again given, and the doses of brandy continued. Pulse reduced to 130. It was noticed that after each hypodermic injection the pulse was reduced in the number of beats and made stronger. At 12:30 p. m., Friday, the lips were blue; face ashy pale; the breathing stertorous, and death was evidently near. Paralysis of the limbs was evident. The pulse was 130, and feeble; respiration 32. OEdema of the lungs had commenced. The body temperature, to the hand, still was high. He died at 3 p. m., 17 hours after taking the poison.
38 b. Autopsy. – All the organs of the thorax and abdomen were in a healthy condition, except the lungs, which were the seat of oedema. R. heart full of dark fluid blood. Head not opened. (Newton, N. Y. Medorrhinum Record.)
STROPHANTHUS (see vol.iv, p.169)
II. 1. I had occasion to order a small quantity of the tinct. from one of our principal chemists, and was surprised to hear that the assistant engaged in preparing it was suddenly affected with a severe headache about the junction of the skin and hairy scalp, which gradually spread to the temples; this was accompanied by double vision succeeded by impaired sight of left eye, nausea but no actual vomiting, coldness of extremities, and faintness. It was several hours before effects passed off. The manager of the compounding department was similarly affected, but in less degree. (Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1887, i, 217.)
STRYCHNINUM (see vol.iii, p.439)
3. I have experimented with this alkaloid on myself and on two other persons, one of whom was a woman of lymphatic temperament. It always brought on electric shocks, occurring whenever the prover was touched, or whenever any one lightly shook the bed on which he or she was lying. This happened to all of us, only the lymphatic (and feeble) woman needed a stronger dose. (The 1x dil. was used, and carried up to 6 dr. a d.) Trismus was also very marked, and even opisthotonos to some extent, but I arrested the experiment at this point. The female prover noticed a curious fact, viz. that any touch on the body, it mattered not where, excited a voluptuous sensation (Meyhoffer, & Bull. de la Soc. Medorrhinum Hom. de France, ii, 209.)
SULPHUR IODATUM (see vol.iv, p. 250)
I. 4. W. S. Moslander, aet. 24, subject to inflamed acne of face, took one dose of 6x trit. A number of symptoms followed, but record was lost. The principal objective symptom was a series of boils upon anterior part of neck and in vicinity of mouth. They persisted for a number of weeks. (Dr. J. C. Morgan’s provings, Trans. of Amer. Inst. of Hom., 1889, p. 379.)
5. R. W. Montgomery, Feb. 7th, 1887, took 1 gr. of same at 8:40 a. m. 10, slight drowsiness, with sense of heat in head and face. 2 p. m., feeling of oppression in vertex, lasting till 8 p. m. Frequent sneezing during later afternoon and evening, with slight coryza. 10, very frequent coughing, without expectoration. 8th. – Great restlessness during n., with some sweating. 9th. – Slight pain in region of right kidney, lasting about 15 m., worse on motion. 11th. – 9:45 a. m., sharp pain, beginning at elbow and extending along inner side of fore – arm to ends of little and ring fingers, lasting about 10 m. It returned again at 11:30, lasting 15 – 20 m, but not so severe. (Ibid.)
6. E. E. Bashore, march 7th, took same at 4 p. m. During ensuing n. was restless, dreaming about a variety of things. 8th. – Headache on rising in morning; it was dull, head feeling thick; worse towards dinner – time. At noon there was full sensation in head, also throbbing, as if blood was pumped up, better when head was elevated on pillows, worse on sitting up or standing, or from least motion, with sticking pains. Dizziness, lasting only a few moments, better in open air and when lying on side; weakened memory. 6 p. m., head hot; headache just above eyes, with aching in eyes. 9, felt a little better. During n. rested pretty well. 9th. – About noon repeated chills, afterwards heat; temp. 101.5 o; pulse 100; slight perspiration, lessening at 3 p. m. 6 p. m., temp. 101.7 o, with increased sweat; pulse 110. During day had also following symptoms: Pupils dilated; aching in throat, worse on any kind of swallowing, and on right side, with dryness and scraping; a small red spot just behind base of tongue; right tonsil slightly inflamed, worse on external pressure; tired feeling in lower limbs, as after long walk, aching bruised pain in them, going up limbs and spinal column to lumbar vertebrae, better when moving and on uncovering limbs, worse during rest; limbs felt stiff, so that he had to drag them along. 10th. – 8 a. m., less pain and swelling in throat, and this on right side only. 11th. – Mouth sore on right side; diarrhoea. (Ibid.)
7. G. Rhoads took same at 5 p. m. He had dryness of throat soon after taking drug, followed by soreness in e. Early in m. pain in abdomen as though diarrhoea was coming on; stool was soft. After 24 hours watery discharge from nose, and in 48 hours considerable phlegm in throat, expectorated easily. (Ibid.)
8. H. Lindley took same March 7th at 5 p. m. About 8, noticed stitching pain in belly, such as is produced by running after drinking. About 11, in open air, noticed ropy phlegm, tasting salty, and constant desire to clear throat, with cough relieved almost instantly on getting into warm room. The salt – tasting phlegm appeared again next day, gradually decreasing. On 9th and 10th, slight tenderness at end of nose, as from a boil, going off on 11th; on which day and on 12th he had crampy pain in abdomen. (Ibid.)
9. H. L. Northrop took same one Monday. On following Thursday appeared papular eruption on face. Next day came a boil on left side of neck just below angle of jaw, which opened about 10 day later. Within a short time of its doing so, two others appeared near it, then others, during two weeks 14 in all. ( Ibid.)
10. Jos. S. Garrison took same on Monday at 5 p. m. On Tuesday a violent attack of sneezing set in, lasting, with short intervals, for 4 day, accompanied by much running from nose, and followed by constriction of chest. (Ibid.)
11. O. H. Paxson took same at 11:15 a. m. P. m. noticed slight throbbing pain in left temporal region, which continued till 10 at n. (Ibid.)
12. J. B. Given took same Jan. 27th at 11:20 a. m. At 3:40 p. m., griping pain in bowels, just beneath umbilicus, extending downwards, with desire for stool. Cutting sensation in anus while at stool, with sore feeling in bowels afterwards. Dull pain in bowels all afternoon, with tendency to nausea; loss of appetite, with thirst. 28th. – 6:30 a. m., tired languid feeling; sleep has not refreshed; tongue coated; pain gone, and more appetite. 10:30, unsettled feeling in stomach and bowels, and thirst. Dull feeling across forehead and in eyes. 29th. – Felt a little better; bowels rather loose. 4 p. m., slight headache, and bad feeling at stomach. 30th, 31st. – Tired depressed feeling continued, with coated tongue; and a pustule appeared on neck, soon becoming a painful boil. He continued to feel poorly in same way throughout its course. (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.