8. Elizabeth M-, aet. 223, had worked for several years in rubber factory exposed to fumes of bisulph. carb She grew weak in limbs, especially legs, coldness and formication. Headache and
giddiness and anorexia. Admitted 30th July. For 6 weeks could not read V. of right= fingers at 2 in (about 2/60) and of left=fingers at 4 in (4/60), pupils medium size and sluggish. Slight neuritis in each eye. Optic disc pale and hazy, the haze extending a disc’s breadth into retina, veins engorged arteries too small. Central scotoma for red, not for white-besides this she had atrophy of thenar eminence of thumbs and interossei muscles. (FUCHS, Ibid., 152.).
Experiments on animals.
1. According to Hermann’s and Hirt’s experiments, which we ourselves have lately repeated with similar results, bisulphide of carbon acts upon frogs just like chloroform, ether, and alcohol, by simply paralysing them. The experiments also of Delpech, Cloez, and Hirt on mammals do not exhibit any remarkable difference between the action of bisulphide of carbon and that of other volatile anaesthetics. (BOEHM, loc. cit.)
2. A rabbit, placed under a bell-jar with some bisulphide, was affected with incomplete paralysis of motion. The paralysis, more marked in the posterior than in the anterior extremities, was preceded by violent convulsive movements. Sensibility was retained. On withdrawal, it had completely regained its health at end of 24 hours. Again exposed to vapour, it had some convulsive movements; incomplete paralysis, more marked on right than on left side; respiration became very slow, pulse disappeared completely, and the animal died, after screaming out most piercingly. On dissection, brain was found soft; lungs very pale, an ecchymosed spot at left base; heart, especially right., gorged with firmly coagulated blood, without fibrinous transformation, but adherent at some points; liver congested; gastric mucous membrane in great cul-de sac presented a great number of ecchymosed spots, having exactly the appearance of purpura.[*”Hermann has found that when bisulphide of carbon is mixed with blood, the red corpuscles become dissolved. Our own observation shows the same result, but the nuclei are left undissolved”(BOEHM)*] Urine contained no albumen, but was coloured red-brown by potash and caustic lime. (DELPECH, op. cit.)
3. a. Two young dogs had respectively 15 and 30 min of the bisulphide given internally. There was no anaesthesia, but distressing tenesmus, with considerable prolapsus, protruding membrane excessively red and covered with mucus.
3 b. Two young cats had respectively 5 and 10 min. The symptoms were exactly the same as in the dogs, save that in the one which had the large dose the prolapsus was very considerable, and the tenesmus most excessive. The next m. 16 hours after, at least 2 in of entire circle of gut was protruding, as congested as possible, with constant tenesmus and great contraction of abdominal muscles. (NUNNELEY, Trans. of Prov. Medorrhinum and Surg. Ass., xvi, 1849.).
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.