35. F. X. ZOTH took, april 13th, 1845, gr. iij of 2nd trit. with sugar of milk. After 1/2 hour strong metallic taste and salivation, nausea, and eructations (3 h.). 15th. – Gr. ij again. Same symptoms, slighter and lasting shorter. 17th. – Gr. ij. Traces of above symptoms,18th. – Gr. ij. No effect. 20th. – Gr. iv. All the above symptoms, only less salivation, but more disagreeable metallic taste disgust and great inclination to vomit (2 h.). 22nd. – Gr. iv. Disgust. Eructations. A swelling of inflammatory type appeared at external meatus of left ear, more troublesome than painful. disappeared gradually within 4 d. After 4 doses of gr. j, taken in 4 successive day, an eruptive (?) swelling of tongue, exuding blood during 3 d. No pain, but impediment of speech. Took again 4 gr in 4 d. On May 14th, 7 hours after 4th dose, was seized with violent pain in bones of both little toes, accompanied with very troublesome tingling, as if both toes would be torn off lasting (though less) through following n. and forenoon. Then slight pain in sacrum and thigh; ceased after few h. Pain in thorax (had taken gymnastic exercise). 18th. – Pale red spots and lines appeared in albuginea of left eye, changing shape and position in course of time, and had nearly disappeared by 31st. 19th. – Pain in thorax so bad he could hardly turn in bed or get up and walk, which increased pain in muscles and bones, latter seeming broken. 20th. – Pain also in region of neck. Unable to turn his head or lift his arms without considerably aggravating the pains. Respiration greatly impeded. All symptoms decreased from day to day 27th-gr. x 1st trit., with sugar of milk. Tinnitus aurium (2 h.). After a second dose same symptoms. 29th. – A third dose for 3 d. After an interval, took gr. iij 1st trit. for 3 d. No symptoms. He then took 6 gr. of 1 pro dosi. After 1st dose (1/2 h.) nausea, effort required to suppress vomiting. Within 1 hour after food all symptoms disappeared. 3rd dose acted like 1st. No med. for some d. Took 4th dose with great disgust; before dose pharynx contracted violently, water collected in mouth; he had great inclination to vomit, which increased at once after dose; took some bread to prevent vomiting, when all symptoms disappeared No after – effects. (Ibid).
Poisonings.
1. A workman, aet. 35, got by chance some solution of bichromate into mouth. He spat it all out, as he conceived; but scarcely had a few m. elapsed ere he felt great heat in throat and stomach and was seized with violent vomiting of blood and mucus, which continued till within a few moments of death, 5 h after commencement of symptoms. On dissection, mucous membranes of stomach, duodenum, and 1/5 th of jejunum, were found destroyed in patches, and remaining parts could be easily removed with handle of scalpel. Lower part of intestinal canal was healthy. (BAER, in Wibmer, op. cit., iv, 344.)
2. a young man swallowed about 3 ij dissolved in warm water shortly before breakfast. In 5 m., vomiting most of the food, then of a thin glairy fluid of a pinkish hue. In 1/2 hour face exceedingly pale, cadaverous, and covered with cold perspiration; pupils dilated and fixed; pulse exceedingly feeble; cramps in calves of legs and almost total insensibility; occasional vomiting attended with violent epigastric pain. The stomach – pump, &c., were used till the washings of the stomach became colourless. The patient now complained of burning pain at pit of stomach, and sense of dryness and heat in throat, accompanied with excessive thirst. Vomiting and straining still occurred at intervals. In about 2 1/2 hours vomiting had subsided, and he began to assume natural look. Temperature of skin rose; and with exception of slight epigastric pain and dryness in fauces, he came comparatively comfortable. Pulse was 100 and rather full; pupils responded to light. Mind calm and intelligence undistributed. Twelve hours after taking poison, very severe gastro – intestinal inflammation had set in, accompanied with severe cramp in various parts of body, particularly calves of legs and inner parts of thighs. Skin was hot and dry; cheeks flushed; countenance anxious; pain in head; pulse 120, hard and full; respiration rapid; epigastrium and abdomen very painful, not bearing slightest pressure; constant straining and retching. Blood drawn was cupped and buffed. In 10 hours vomiting and cramps had ceased, and other symptoms were all subsiding, and bowels had acted once. In 66 hours after taking poison, he was seized with violent purging, which continued almost incessantly; bowels were evacuated as he lay in bed, evacuations consisting of mucus and blood; when this had lasted 2 hours he was reported to be dying, and was found with skin cold clammy, face pale, eyes sunk, feet and hands cold, pulse scarcely perceptible; abdomen sunken and tender. Reaction ensued in about 2 hours, and symptoms gradually subsided toward e. During day were observed; excessive thirst; pulse 120; frequent twitches in calves; straining and purging. Next day purging returned, bit not so violent as before, and stools contained feculent matter; tenesmus not severe; abdomen very tender in region of a sigmoid flexure; distension slight; thirst and fever abated. There was considerable emaciation with urgent dyspepsia; bowels habituary costive. ( Guy’s Hosp. Reports, 2nd series, vii, 217.)
3. Man, aet. 34, took by mistake three doses (about 1/3) of sol. of 1/4 oz. to Oj. Felt immediately deadly sick; vomited for 8 hours first solution, then greenish bile, then watery mucus; prostration; purging; urine scanty. Seen 12 months after, complained of strong feeling of bearing down towards right groin; a very tender point midway between umbilicus and spine of right ilium, evidently in ascending colon, which frequently bulges out; tongue loaded; bad taste in mouth; stools and urine natural. Sleeps pretty well, bit always awakes with the uneasy feeling in r iliac region. (Brit. Journ. of Hom., xi, 139.)
4. A man, in a fit of rage, swallowed a solution of a piece of bichromate. Nausea immediately came on, and after demulcent draughts violent vomiting was produced. After stomach was emptied, patient felt well and free from pain; ate supper, and passed quiet n. Next n. Next m. after getting up felt such weakness that he was obliged to lie down again; belly neither swollen nor painful; pulse quit but small. Patient felt only some shooting pains in back and in renal region, and feeling of scraping in throat; could eat, and drank diluents freely; had several natural stools, but did not pass a drop of urine. Second. was some what restless, and next m. patient was very much weaker; had scarcely power to rise, and trembled greatly on making attempt, without, however, any increase of pain. Weakness increased, but spirits remained good; no urine passed, and he died, sleeping calmly, 54 hours after taking poison, as if from pure exhaustion, without any disturbance of mental faculties. Some hours before death white of eyes became yellow, and shortly before death spasmodic contraction of hands was observed. On dissection, stomach was found unchanged, liver coloured yellow, spleen rouged with blood; kidney large, and when cut open deeply marbled red, filled with frothy blood; bladder empty. Fluid in stomach showed presence of chrome to chemical tests. (SCHINDLER, in Wimber, loc. cit.)
5. Man swallowed ” a lump” (about 3jj) of bichromate. In 15 m. came on lightness of head, then sensation of great heat in stomach with glow of heat all over body, followed by cold sweat. Next sickness and vomiting. then agonising pain at epigastrium with giddiness, specks before eyes and loss of power of legs. Intense thirst; he said “he could drink the sea dry.” then rigors with coldness of whole body, especially extremities. After 2 hours pupils slightly dilated, face pale and cold, pulse feeble and fluttering, intense pain over stomach, and great depression. After stomach – pump, &c., complete recovery. (McNIVEN, Lancet Sept. 22, 1883.)
6. Man swallowed 3jj. Excessive vomiting, purging, and violent abdominal pains with cramp in legs and coldness of surface. Hands shrivelled, wrinkled and dusky, like person in advanced stage of cholera; face and lips dusky, with yellowness of conjunctiva; sore mouth, excessive thirst, feeble pulse, hurried respiration, and suppression of urine. Mental faculties unimpaired. (McLCHLAN, Glasgow Medorrhinum Journ., July, 1881.
7. Dr. CLALGUERNSEY took inadvertently 1 1/2 gr. of 1 x. trit. at midnight for slight sore – throat. He writes – “I had hardly time to reach my bed when vomiting began; my sensations were those of seasickness, as though stomach turned a complete summer set, and every muscle in body was at work no eject offending substance; blood-vessels of head seemed full to bursting, deathly sickness and straining were an agony. Sense of smell and taste seemed tenfold keen; some Ipecac., taken in water, seemed all alcohol, and so increased my nausea that I could take no more. Liquid vomited was pea-green, and intensely bitter. I felt chilly and shivering; mixed some camphor, and endeavored to take it, but smell and taste made me so deathly sick I would take no more. Again vomiting commenced, as before and with same distress and shuddering, also cramps in stomach. Last vomiting gave sensation in throat and mouth resembling that caused by podophyllum, which now took in 2nd dil. frequently, at same time applying sinapism to epigastrium, and drinking freely of hot black tea. After this (2 h.). I vomited no more. Next day felt sore, with dull ache at pit of stomach, and slight occasional nausea.” (Am. Hom. Obs., 1868, p. 468.)
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.