Introduction
Chloral; product of action of dry chlorine gas on absolute gas on absolute alcohol. Commonly employed as hydrate, CCl2, CH(OH)2.
Provings.
1a. Dr. D. A.BABCOCK took 6x trit. in frequently repeated doses. Only effort noticed was that on 2nd day he could not keep thread of sermon in church.
1b. Took 15 gr. of crude drug in one dose. After a few m. feeling as if hot band was drawn across forehead from temple to temple, directly over eyes, with sensation as of a burning ring around each eye; also rush of blood and transient sensation of heat in face. Soon after, Severe pain in frontal region, right over supra – orbital ridge, which nothing relieves, aggravated by movement. After 1 1/4 hours sense of nausea and oppression in stomach, without inclination to vomit; relieved by supper, but returning later in e. After 1 1/2 hours dull heavy headache in occiput, and in forehead over eyes; there is sense of weight and soreness, seemingly wholly inside cranium, aggravated alike by lying down and by moving about, but somewhat relieved by going into open air. After 12 hours pupils contracted and insensible to light. Premature emission this n. and the next.
1c. Took repeated doses of 1x. After 1/2 h. pulse (normally 72) 84, and headache in head extending to occiput. After 4 hours spells of feeling as though legs were asleep; also dull aching pains in calves, at times running down into feet, and sense of fulness of skin there, with throbbing; severity of pain lasted about 1 1/2 hours, when it gave way to a dull, steady headache, not very severe; it returned next day more severity. On 2nd day awoke in m. with feeling as of cold in head; throat and posterior nares seem sensitive, raw, and burning. Dull and full feeling in head all d.
1d. Took 2 gr. of crude drug without effect, save some looseness and increased frequency of stools. (ALLEN, Encyclopedia, vol. iii)
2. Same proved drug on G. A.T. – [manner not stated]. After 5 m. belching of wind, lasting till after eating. After 2 hours headache over both eyes, running down into eyes, 1. worst, with feeling as if eyes were constricted; within 2 hours it gradually passed away. (Ibid)
3. P. H.M. – (as 2). After 1 hour dull, heavy, pressing
headache over eyes, especially left, while at supper, lasting about 1 hour, then gradually wearing away. On another occasion, after 2 hours, similar headache, with nausea and sour eructations of liquid. After 7 – 9 hours, two soft light yellowish stools, voided with some sharp pains in rectum. On 2nd day, loss of appetite; slight throbbing pain in left eyeball, aggravated by leaning forward. On 3rd day, stool in m. soft, but voided with great pain in rectum. Very sleepy in evening, and retired early; did not feel refreshed waking next m. (Ibid.)
4. W. B. – (as 2). On 2nd day, woke at 8 a. m. with feeling of fulness and constriction of head; all day dull aching pain therein, aggravated by sudden motion, with inability to concentrate thought; also pain in stomach and abdomen, with slight dyspnoea. (Ibid)
5. a. Took ij in 3ss water and syrup. It produced for 45 m. a muscular and moral excitability similar to a slight champagne intoxication, whereby the prover felt pleasant, smiled, and danced. Without any trouble he fell asleep as soon as he lay down. The sleep was quiet, natural; not disturbed by any dreams of hallucinations. Forcibly awakened, clear consciousness returned easily, and he replied promptly to any question. Left again to himself, he fell immediately again into his natural sleep, which lasted for 10 hours, a thing which had never happened to him during his whole life. He woke up refreshed in m. without any bad symptoms, but could not recollect the disturbance by which he was awakened, nor that he replied. The chloral sleep was therefore profound and lasting.
5b. Pulse 68, resp. 28, temp.. 37.2; took ij in mucilage. Immediately a pleasant excitation for 1/4 hour, pulse 88. At 10 a. m., quiet sleep; pulse 74, resp. 28, temp. 36; both pupils somewhat dilated. 10:30 a. m., quiet sleep, although a good deal of noise in hospital (prover suffers from a slight bronchial attack). 11 a. m. prover goes with another patient to the bath- room and takes a lukewarm bath. 11:45, returns from the bath, taken hearty meal, and at 1 p. m. goes to sleep again. 5:30 p. m. wakes up refreshed, waiting for his supper; pulse 72, resp. 32, temp. 37. (Amer. Hom. Obs., vii, 293; from Wiener Medorrhinum Woichemschrift.)
6. Dr. CAVINS took, Ist. n., 3j, 2nd n. 3ij, 3rd n. 3iij. On each occasion symptoms were same in character but different in degree. After largest dose, in 10 m. there was great confusion of mind; a feeling of being in some distant place, with anxiety to get home; consciousness of everything going on, with propensity to utter what was felt to be nonsense; extreme restlessness; violent palpitation; panting respiration; congested face; bloodshot and staring eyes; and profuse perspiration. These symptoms continued from 11 p. m.. without intermission till 6 a. m., when he slept for 2 hours and awoke with violent headache. For 3 weeks thereafter there was painful sense of drowsiness; eyes were inflamed and sensitive to light, and temper very irritable. ( Ed, Medorrhinum Journ., xvi, 375.)
7. Dr. ANDREWS tested action of Chl. on pulse.
7a. Gr. x reduced pulse of healthy person 6 per m.; scarcely any drowsiness. Gr. xx; after 5 m. pulse from 78 fallen to 78 fallen to 72; 25 m. after, increased in volume, 66,; in 50 m. volume increased, drowsy, 54.. Gr. xxx; in 10 m. pulse, which was before 84, fell to 72; 20 m. after increased in volume, 66; in 60 m., lessened in volume, 60. Gr. xl, during digestion; pulse 78; 5 m. after, 78; 15 m., 72; 30 m., 66, no change in volume; 90 m., 60 much reduced in volume for some hours, drowsiness. Gr. xI; pulse before taking, 66; 30 m. after, 60; 75 m; 54; 180m., 54, greatly lessened force in heart’s action for some h.
7b. Other effects: in 3 m. heat and burning in stomach, drowsiness, difficulty in keeping eyes open. In 15 m. sleep, in spite of irresistance; when aroused, talkative, tongue thick, speech indistinct (characteristic of intoxication). After 1/2 hour, contraction of pupil as in natural sleep. After 1 1/2 hours fell asleep. Slept for 1 hour; awoke. After 3 hours again overcome with sleep for 1 hour; easily aroused, but went to sleep again. After 3 1/2 hours awoke and took a hearty meal. His gait was unsteady, as if somewhat intoxicated. In 5 hours after taking dose he went to sleep and slept for 10 h.
7c. Conclusions: (1) That the effect of chl. is to reduce the number of pulsations. (2) that the primary action is to increase the force of the heart’s action and arterial tension. (3) that in large doses, within safe limits, the pulsations are not rescued in number proportionately to the size of the dose, but the effect is more prolonged. (4) That the secondary effect is to diminish the force of the heart’s action and the arterial tension. This will be apparent by comparing the number of pulsations, and the dicrotism of the first tracing with the last in the 4th experiment tracings given. -[EDS.]
7d. Order of effects its: sense of heaviness of head, a tingling of the extremities; feeling of weight, as if the part was asleep; and gradually increasing drowsiness. There is inclination to talk, with thickness of tongue and inability to speak plainly, especially if the patient is talked to or otherwise disturbed. If he is quiet he yields readily to sleep, and this intoxicating stage not be observed. Then occurs the profound sleep of Chl. On awakening, if the effects have not
completely passed off, there may be a recurrence, in a mild degree, of the state of intoxication. (Amer. Journ. of Insanity, xxviii, 35.).
Poisonings
1. In a fit of insanity Mrs. J. S.-, aet. 65, took about 3ss in solution. She had taken several smaller doses within a few days for the following symptoms: sleepiness at n. with restless irritability; confusion in head; melancholy; inclined to wander away and hide herself; avoided shrewdly the vigilance of her friends; would then return, unable to give any account of where she had been. 12 hours after taking chl. an emetic (zinc. sulph.) was given and vomiting ensued. Deep sleep, lasted 36 hours, pulse normal, breathing easy, regular. On awaking was calmer, said she felt better, pain in head relieved, but could not get up. Sensation and motion paralysed in both legs. The following day a smooth, bright scarlet eruption appeared over whole body (face, limbs, &c.). That on face was erysipelatous, and face was so much swollen that she could not see. Eruption disappeared after 4 days, paralysis after 1 week; since which (2 years) she has been free from headaches and mental symptoms. (J. H.SHERMAN, M. D., N. Eng. Medorrhinum Gaz., 1874, p. 412.)
2. Soon after experiments with chl. were commenced in this asylum I noticed a singular flushing of the head and face in many of the patients taking the drug. Of 40 cases in which chl. was tried in a certain period this blushing was remarked in 19 to a greater or less extent; and it was not unusual to see a pale anaemic patient, to whom cho. had been given presenting at certain times a floridness of countenance resembling that of rude health. This was especially the case when alcohol in any form was given along with it, and it was rarely seen unless the drug had been given regularity for some little time. In one case, typical of many, 1/2 hour after 15 gr. had been taken, the face up to the roots of the hair and down to the ramus of the lower jaw was of a dull scarlet colour, a very persistent under pressure, most intense over the malar prominences and bridge of the nose, and thence shading off in every direction. The ears partook of the same colour, which was also scattered in blotches over the neck and chest, the lower blotch being over middle f sternum, and the largest about the size of a florin. This condition was associated with slight contraction of the pupils, injection of conjunctivae and excitement of the circulation; lasted about an hour and then disappeared during a paroxysm of sneezing and emotional perturbation, to recur after the next dose. (CRICHTON BROWNE, Lancet, 1871, i, 440.)
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.