13. Rev. W. R. -, aet. 64, for slight cold took 3 dr. of Rubini’s camphor every 5 m. of 8 doses. Suddenly felt severe pain in head which compelled him to go to bed and lasted for 48 hours; became deathly pale and vomited several times. When he go up severe pain in spine, which made it difficult to keep erect. For 2 months was unable to resume work. (Ibid.)
14. A young lady, aet. 19, took for diarrhoea teaspoonful of concentrated solution of C. in water. Soon felt burning pain in mouth, fauces, and pit of stomach, dimness of sight, giddiness, tinnitus aurum, numbness and tingling of arms and legs with loss of muscular power. Unconsciousness lasted for 3 h. during which time there was coldness of surface with quick and feeble pulse conjunctivae insensible to touch and tickling of feet not felt, respiration feeble, and slight convulsions. Emetic was given and sensibility gradually returned. She appeared like one awaking out of deep sleep; afterwards burning heat of skin, full and quick pulse, great twitching of eyes, much agitation, headache, giddiness, and inability to walk from loss of muscular power; mucous membrane of mouth slightly red, swollen, and painful. (Ibid.)
15 P -, aet, 18 took for slight diarrhoea a teaspoonful of Rubini’s C. in water. Soon felt confused and giddy and took a little brandy. In about 30 m. suddenly fell down and was convulsed violently. Bystanders supposed it was epileptic fit. In about 10 m. regained consciousness and took emetic. For 5 d. occasional giddiness. (Ibid).
16. JUAN, Swiss mountain guide, took about 20 dr. for diarrhoea. Soon felt giddiness with headache, nausea, and extreme nervousness. Had to lie down and rest for a time, and afterwards was so nervous that he had to pick his way over the snow for fear of falling, and fell into sort of lethargy, from which he was frequently roused. Next d. was quite well. (CLIFFORD ALLBUTT, in Ibid.)
17. Boy, aet. 14, took about 15 dr. of homoeopathic tincture. [ In all these cases it was the saturated tincture (Rubini’s) which was – very improperly – employed, as it was taken merely for a cold – EDS.] He immediately became insensible; was soon found pulseless, with extremities cold, and face and lips pallid. An emetic was given and brought up a quantity of C., and in 1/2 h. he became sensible. (G. JOHNSON, Brit, Medorrhinum Journ., 1875, i, 272.)
18 Lady, aet, 35, took 7 dr. of same. There immediately supervened a very faint feeling, which compelled her to lie down flat on the hearthrug and she nearly lost consciousness. This lasted about 5 m. When I arrived, her face was very pale, and her pulse weak. She was very drowsy after she got to bed. (Ibid. p. 171.)
19. Young man took within 6 h. 7 doses of 3 dr. each. Within 5 m. after last dose, without slightest warning, had a severe epileptic fit, in which his tongue was badly bitten. Ever since he has felt “queer,” complaining of peculiar cold sensation on tongue, extending about 1/2 in. from tip (Ibid. 1877, i, 607.)
20. A young lady took a few drops of same. She immediately became very giddy and unwell, threw her arms about a sister, and was seized with strong convulsions. In about 1/4 h. there was free vomiting, and she remained unconscious for some time longer. Later she complained of headache and giddiness, and was evidently confused; pulse quick, skin moist. (A. LEGAT, M. D., Ibid., 1875, i, 242.)
21. Patient was a man who generally enjoyed good health; he swallowed at bedtime half a wine glassful of saturated solution. After lying in bed 1/2 h. he suddenly shrieked, jumped out of bed, and in great anguish and despair bent double. A physician was sent for, who administered an emetic, after which he felt easier, and next d. was able to attend to business. That n. another violent paroxysm took place; he fancied he was able to fly about, and that, in spite of his opposition, he was carried away through the air; he felt drawing round whole head, as though nerves were drawn up, with short remissions, attended with chilly creepings and indescribable sense of malaise. There then developed in him an exceedingly timorous disposition, though he had never before known what fear was; he was more especially tormented by dread of being alone in dark, also of looking- glasses in room and thought of seeing himself in them. Sleep was restless disturbed by frightful visions of ghosts, &c., frequent tossings about and startings; even while waking he frequently started as if in affright, with palpitation. He had disposition to scream even during work and in the street, without apparent reason; he felt impelled to attack people in the street and kill them. These sensations, which always became more intense in darkness, at n., and in cold, but which did not interfere with his daily pursuits, continued for nearly 2 years; and after 5 years troubled him somewhat, nor had he entirely overcome his fearfulness. (Hom. Times, v, 285.)
22. Miss J -, aet 27, to relieve dysmenorrhoea, took increasing dose at intervals during d., and at 6 p.m., 2 tablespoonfuls of tinct. at a single dose. In a few moments was free from pain and went to visit a neighbour; but on entering house was attacked with dreadful feeling of faintness, shivering, and numbness, without coldness save in stomach. Could only reach home by determining not to faint, and constantly eating snow and throwing it on to face. On reaching house would not enter it till doctor came, alleging that if she went indoors she should faint, and then have fits and never come out of them. Dr. Young found her thus and much excited. He had her conveyed into a warm room and placed by a hot fire. Courses were found to have ceased entirely; pulse was imperceptible, heart very slow and intermittent; face and hands deathly pale, extremities numb she constantly complained of freezing. Reaction was now brought about, and a hot bath, with aconite and pulsatilla restored the menses. Next d. she felt as well as usual save for occasional sensation as if she would faint; and for 4 d. more attended to her usual duties. On e. of 4th d., while at piano, a friend suddenly held a bottle of C. to her nose. Patient says she knows she only got one sniff of it, but immediately all her old symptoms returned, viz.; faintness, shivering, coldness, numbness, and thickening of tongue with difficulty of speech and thought. [Last two symptoms occurred also during reaction from original poisoning; but as coffee and laudanum had been freely given they were omitted as scarcely pure. – EDS.] These symptoms were not constant, but came on several times during d. for several d., gradually passing off, and then reappearing without a moments warning. For some time after this susceptibility to the drug continued. (Hahn. Monthly, ix, 301.).
Experiments on animals
1 a C. dissolved in oil soon causes in dogs paroxysms of tetanic spasm. At first the senses are entire in the interval; but by degrees they become duller, till at length a state of deep sopor is established, with noisy and laborious breathing, and expiration of camphorous fumes; in this state the animal soon perishes. A solution of 20 gr. in olive oil will kill a dog in less than 10 m. when injected into the jugular vein. When C. is given to dogs in fragments it does not give rise to convulsions, but kills them more slowly by inducing inflammation of the alimentary canal. These are the results of numerous experiments by Orfila.
1 b. They are confirmed by others since performed by Scudery, of Messina, but this experimentalist likewise remarked that the convulsions were attended with a singular kind of delirium, which made the animals run up and down without apparent cause, as if they were maniacal. He also found the urinary organs generally affected, and for the most part with strangury.
1 c. In dogs examined immediately after death the heart is no longer contractile, and its left cavities contain arterial blood of a reddish brown colour. When the poison has been given in fragments, it leaves marks of inflammation in stomach and intestines. Orfila found these organs much inflamed under such circumstances. Scudery found membranes of brain much injected and brain itself sometimes softened; inner membrane of stomach either very red, or checkered with black, gangrenous-like spots of size of millet seeds; duodenum in same state; ureters, urethra, and spermatic cord inflamed; and every organ of body, even brain giving out strong odour of C. (CHRISTISON, op, cit., pp, 808, 810.) 2 a Menghini found effluvium of C. fatal to many of the articulata when enclosed with this substance in a glass vessel, with paper pierced with holes for air. Insects are sensibly affected by its emanations, which ultimately destroy them. According to some experimenters, small birds are all more or less acted on; some are seized with epileptiform convulsions, others with a sort of intoxication or madness, and others fall into state of stupor, or give signs of distress, with stertorous breathing, hiccup, and frothing at mouth; while in some cases a purgative, emetic, or diuretic action is manifested. Most frequently death of animal speedily follows these symptoms; and on dissection various signs of inflammation are detected in meninges, lungs heart, and intestines. 2 b. When C. is given in small doses to horses, oxen sheep &c., it is said to quicken pulse and cause general excitement, and blood drawn from a vein flows more strongly and is redder than before experiment. Larger doses, according to Moiroud, develop exalted sensibility and induce convulsions, and still larger quantities produce a greater degree of morbid sensibility, frequency of pulse, convulsive paroxysms, and at last insensibility, and an apoplectic condition. (STILLE, op, cit.).
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.