Poisonings
1. M -, of thin habit and clear complexion, subject to slight nervous affections, but otherwise healthy, had for some d. spasmodic construction of sphincter ani. An enema of 30 gr. of c. was prescribed. In a few m. taste of C. in throat; in 15 m. (enema still retained) feeling of unrest and general illness, which increased. He jumped out of bed, felt lighter than usual seemed scarcely to touch the floor as he walked but to glide over it. He sought assistance, his walk being uncertain and staggering; he gesticulated much and kept asking for wine. Face pale eyes sunken, feature altered. Feeling of coldness over entire skin, with sensation of numbness at hairy scalp, and especially at nape of neck. Skin cold and moist in parts, pulse weak and contracted. Tendency to faint; mind especially affected, being in a state of great inquietude, but without apprehension of danger. He was emotional and shed tears, which surprised him, as there was no cause for them, and yet he could not prevent them. This state continued about 30 m. and gradually wore off. A glass of wine helped to restore him. He exhaled an odour of C. all d. (ORFILA, 4th ed., ii, 495.)
2. Man, aet. 39 ate about 35 gr. of powdered C. He had a fit of epilepsy, lasting about 10 m., followed by an extraordinary state of exhaustion. Extremities were cold, surface covered with clammy sweat; pulse frequent and scarcely perceptible; pupils dilated. When roused he had scarcely power to articulate. Ther was occasional suppression of urine for 3 months afterwards (Had once had epileptic fit during intoxication.] (Lancet, 1842 – 3, i, 300.)
3. A young lady swallowed piece about size of marble. Had a most vacant expression of countenance, eyes wandering about room, speechless and powerless, soon had violent epileptic fit, lasting 2 m. Went into state of stupor, and in about 1/2 h. vomited freely, matter rejected smelling most strongly of C. In m. complained of violent pain in head and chest; mouth was slightly distorted; taste and smell of C. still present, and most disagreeable. (Ibid., 1857, i, 384.)
4. Lad, aet 13, ate 2 pieces of C., about 120 gr. After 4h. was observed to do something which elicited question. “Are you dreaming?” No reply was given, and it was noticed that something was wrong with boy; eyes were fixed in a stare, and he stood motionless and unconscious. His brother took him up to carry him to adjoining room, when he immediately became convulsed and perfectly rigid, with head and legs bent back so that he could only be placed on side. Convulsions increased till surface from head to shoulders became purple, and pulse decreased rapidly till it could not be felt. Body then lost rigidity, and was apparently lifeless; but in about 10 seconds pulse could again be felt, convulsions returned, and he foamed at mouth. Application of cold water brought him round in about 4m.; violent vomiting then ensued; he was hysterical for a time, but within an h. was so far recovered that he could be put to bed. (New Remedies, 1876, p. 85: from Allen)
5. Dr. BECK found a well grown child aet 3, lying on his mother’s lap in strong convulsions. Scalp was intensely hot; extremities cold; abdomen retracted, and patient apparently moribund. Breath smelt of C., and it was ascertained that child had obtained a fragment of some in house 7 – 8 h. previously. A whiskey enema and pounded ice to head restored child in 2 1/2 h. (St. Louis Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., May 1862.)
6. A young man, otherwise healthy, took for sleeplessness while suffering from a coryza about 20 gr. of C. in small pieces. He soon felt chilly, and a state like unconsciousness came on; when he recovered he felt as if crazy. This repeated itself several times, till an emetic removed a quantity of C. He still felt sensation of coldness from stomach down legs, hands appeared to him paralysed, and all that he looked at trembled. After a few d. rest he returned to his work, but after 3 weeks lateral headache, globus, loss of memory becoming easily frightened, palpitations, hallucinations alternate weeping and laughing pollutions without sexual ideas, and state of somnambulism set in; and some time passed before he felt well again. (PLANAT, Medorrhinum Psychol., Buxelles March, 1885.)
7. Dr. EICHORN had powdered some C. with sugar to relieve a cold in head, and in course of 3 h. took a teaspoonful from time to time without reflecting on quantity he was taking, which was about 3ij. Going now to bed, for 1/2 h. he suffered no inconvenience. Presently, however, he began to feel warmer and warmer until he experienced a burning heat; his pulse grew very frequent, but there was no uneasiness in head. He says: “I never felt better, never were my ideas more lively and clearer; it appeared as if my intellectual powers were increased, and certainly champagne never brought on a more pleasing intoxication. After about 1 1/2 h. my skin began to grow moist; soon after my pulse become slower and I fell asleep. Next m. I awoke miserably weak, the sweat having penetrated to the under side of the feather bed, and my shirt and bedclothes were drenched.” (Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., xi, 772.)
8. Mr. C -, aet, 20 of healthy constitution and full habit, was standing in a shop where a druggist was breaking up cakes of C. – He began to eat morsels of it, and probability swallowed from 3j to 3ij in a few m. Suddenly experiencing a degree of headache, he went out into the street and meeting a friend, proposed to him a rubber at waist. He felt unusually clear headed; but soon after sitting down, his gestures and conversation became very strange and wild. Leaving room suddenly, he retired to adjoining bedroom and returned naked, dancing wildly about, and attempting to jump out of window. Pulse was 180 and small; conjunctiva injected; pupils not much dilated, but scarcely sensible to light; countenance pale and haggard; breathing hurried and at times greatly laboured; frequent desire to micturate, with some pain along spermatic cord; urine quite clear, but having (as well as perspiration) a strong odor of C.; clammy sweat breaking out over body. Opium was now given and complicated subsequent phenomena. Patient described sensations while under influence of C. as “most exhilarating, but gradually becoming oppressive.” (REYNOLDS, Monthly journ, of Med Sc., Sept., 1846.)
9. Two patients took C. (3ij and 3j respectively) for severe colic. In both cases besides other symptoms whole body became pale and extremely cold; in first, there was also insensibility and collapse. (CULLEN and DUTEAU in STILLE, op. cit., ii, 61.)
10. A hypochondriac took 3ij in oil. Hardly was dose taken, when patient was seized with vertigo, extremities grew cold, countenance pale, pulse small and very slow; there was precordial distress, and cold sweat broke out upon forehead; mind became disturbed and patient laughed loudly at one moment, and at next was depressed with dread of dying. Volatile and stimulating liquid held to nose increased intoxication; patient’s limbs seemed weary, and though proclaiming his strength he staggered in walking. In 2 h. he began to come to himself, but was feeble and relaxed; copious perspiration with warm skin and frequent pulse followed, and he enjoyed a good night’s rest. (HOFFMANN. in Ibid., p.58).
11. A nervous and delicate female, afflicted with neuralgia and various scattered pains had 4 grms. suspended in water given by enema. Hardly had 2 m. elapsed when patient complained of faintness which seemed to threaten dissolution, and of severe pain in belly. Immediately afterwards she became insensible and was convulsed; limbs were controlled; head thrown backwards face purple, and mouth foaming. The fit lasted 12 m. M. ARAN found her a few m. later with eyes half open, pulse 76 – 80 and extremely small, extremities cold and livid, and respiration suspended. Patient regained consciousness on water being sprinkled on face, but complained of pain in abdomen, and a sense of suffocation lasting for several h. A purgative enema was administered, and strong coffee given; but very soon after, though she had meanwhile evacuated some of the camphorated liniment, symptoms of suffocation became intense with face and extremities as cold as marble; they were only mitigated by streams of cold water on head, Insensibility and coldness persisting patient was placed in a warm bed, and wine with cannula administered. From, this time reaction came on, trunk grew warm and even hot, pulse rose and became frequent (88 – 92) and in 4 h. after taking the C. only remaining symptoms were fever, redness of face, heat of skin, and sense of weariness and debility. By the morrow these were entirely dissipated. Patient had no recollection whatever of incidents of attack. (Bull. de Therap., xii, 164.)
12. Miss T -, aet. 20, took for a slight cold 25 dr. concentrated solution of C. in water. At once felt burning sensation in mouth and throat; she took water followed by gruel and went to bed and believes she immediately went to sleep. Soon after her sister heard her make strange noise, and received no reply on speaking to her. She was found insensible, foaming at mouth, black in face, and violently convulsed. In a few m. convulsions cease, and vomiting of pink probably blood stained fluid smelling strongly of C., followed In an h. she was in deep sleep from which she could not be aroused. Throat looked inflamed tongue covered with thick creamy fir, pupils dilated. For several h. breath continued to smell of C. and she was very drowsy. for several d. complained of pain and tenderness over stomach increased by taking food numbness of tongue continued for 2 weeks, and left arm and leg were partially paralysed. She dragged the left foot along the ground in walking. For some months constant distressing dreams at night, weak and nervous, and occasional weakness and numbness in left arm and leg. (G. JOHNSON, Trans. of Clin. Society, vii, 28.)
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.