19. a. Medical man, aet. 70, in habit of taking Chl. Desquamation of fingers of both hands, with superficial ulceration, especially about borders of nails; pain and much sensibility to touch, acceleration of pulse, general malaise.
19 b. Young lady, taking chl. for a month every n. had erythematous inflammation, desquamation, and ulceration around border of nails. (Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., 1871, p. 33.
Experiments on animals.
1. A rabbit was given 30 gr. In 5 m. respirations 120, irregular; sat quietly, ears semi-erect; in 10 m. moved about, but seemed very stupid, heavy, ears lying on its back; 13 m. respirations 43, sat quietly, occasionally lifted its head smartly as if trying to shake off sleep, and gnawed at a box near it; 15 m., appeared greatly excited, but was unable to keep itself steady; 17.m., snuffing about; 18 m., has again settled down., 20 m., respirations 34, still moved when noise was made; 22 m., was holding its nose on the ground, but raised its head when noise was made., 25 m., tried to move, but seemed paralysed in hind legs; 26 m., scratched at floor with fore-feet; 27 m., made an unsuccessful attempt to “dress” itself, snuffed excitedly round about itself, snuffed excitedly round about it; 29 m., did not more when no was made; 36 m., again attempted to “dress” itself, moved its jaws as if trying to eat, smelt its hind legs as if about to lick them, continued the movements of jaws; 37 m., did not move when the glass globe over it was roughly shaken; 38 m., respiration 34, free and full, abdominal, licked several parts of the body; 40 m., it snuffs slowly and lazily about, has complete command of its forelegs, but not of its hind legs. ears very warm and lying flat; 50 m., ate oatcake eagerly, and quite recovered. (Edin. Medorrhinum Journ., aug., 1872.).
2. a. In Liebreich’s original experiments, gr. 1 1/2 administered hypodermically to a rabbit produced a lethargic sleep lasting 9 or 10 hours, during which animal was thrown over back of chair without its awaking. Similar results were obtained with dogs. Richardson, by internal administration to pigeons, produced sleep with 2 or 3 gr., during which respiration became slower and temperature fell. In frogs, 1 gr. caused almost instant insensibility, coma, and death, usually proceeded by spasms or convulsions. Experiments upon other creatures gave substantially the same results; and in all it has been particularly noticed that the sleep produced by Chl. differs from that occasioned by other anaesthetics or narcotics in this, that it is less profound, is easily disturbed, and as easily renewed when the animal is left to itself.
2 b. When animals are killed by large doses the sinuses of the brain are found, after death, destined with dark fluid blood; the membranes are injected, but the brain itself is free from congestion, and is of a natural colour. The same appearances are prevented by the spinal cord. the muscles are dark in colour, and filled with fluid blood, which flows freely from them when they are incised. The heart contains blood in both sides, preserving the distinctive arterial and venous characters. The lungs are pale, and contain blood, but are not congested. The blood coagulates with moderate firmness; its red corpuscles are sometimes shrunken and crenate. (STILLE, Opium cit.)
3. In conjunction with Professor Stricker, I found that when large doses are given the temperature gradually falls until it can no longer be measured by the clinical thermometer. Animals which have received a dose that would certainly kill them if left exposed, recover from the effects if they are wrapped in cotton – wool. If dose be still further increased so as to kill the animal even when carefully so covered, it may still be kept alive by being put in a warm place. (BRUNTON, op – cit)
4. The paralysis and loss of reflex excitability induced by chloral are not muscular in origin, for Labbee and Rajewsky have found that the motor nerves are in no wise affected by large or even fatal doses of chloral, which must therefore act upon the spinal cord to produce the paralytic phenomena. the experiments of Rajewsky have afforded positive confirmation of the conclusion arrived at by this process of exclusion; for he found that in the latter stages of chl. poisoning direct irritation of the spinal cord gave rise to much less clonic spasm than in the unpoisoned animal. (H. C.WOOD, ep. 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.