Experiments on animals.
Our knowledge of the morbid effects of chrome in the lower animals is tolerably complete, being derived from 40 to 50 experiments with the chromate or bichromate of potash, chiefly on dogs and rabbits. [*The experiments referred to are those of Gmelin (in Wibmer), Drysdale (Brit. Journ of Hom., ii, App.), Schlesinger, Zlatarowich, and Norton(CEst. Zeitschr., iii) Berndt (Frank’s Mag., i, 34), Vulpian(Journ. de Pharm. et de Chim., Sept., Oct., 1883)(, and Priestley(Journ. of Anat. and Phys., xi, 285)*]. They may be divided into 3 classes: 1st, those that proved fatal within less than 10 or 12 hours; 2nd, those fatal between 12 hours and two or three weeks; and 3rd, those that lasted from 1 to 2 mo.
I. a. the first class furnishes few facts of practical interest. As regards quantity, – in different experiments 6, 12,30 gr. produced no further effect than their ejection by vomiting; while in others, 30 – 60 gr. of chromate or 10 gr. of bichromate were fatal in dogs and rabbits in 1/2 – 3 hours. A solution of 10 gr. injected into the jugular of a dog produced instant death. The appearances found in these rapid poisonings were: – mucous membrane of stomach was violently inflamed in all its extent except pyloric portion, or there were brown, or brownish – red, or even blackish spots in several places, and membrane was partly destroyed. Ileum injected; red spots in caecum; trachea vascular; bronchia and lungs full of blood, and in one lower lobe said to be inflamed; heart containing dark coagulated blood; brain and spinal marrow full of blood, and soft.
1 b. In Priestley’s experiments neutral chromate or sodium was employed. Six rabbits, two frogs and one guinea – pig were used. The drug was injected under the skin or into the veins, and caused death rapidly. “1 – 3 gr is a powerful poison for rabbits and guinea – pigs, procuring death in 4 – 30 minutes if injected into veins, and in 40 – 50 minutes when introduced beneath skin.” Death was preceded by spasms or convulsions and violent retching. convulsions are varied with, or succeeded by, paralysis of motion in mammals, and in frogs, as is usual, of respiration also. In frogs power of reflex actions speedily abolished. “The blood – pressure generally rises at first, but in 3/4 – 3 minutes begins to fall, and continues to fall till death. Meanwhile the pulse preserves a strict normality save that as the blood-pressure falls it becomes somewhat fuller, owning to the larger expansion of the laxer arterial walls.” After a time, however, the pulse begins to slip a beat at intervals. These slips did not occur in
one rabbit in which the vagi were divided, while they happened while these were intact. P. M. – Stomach exhibited much cherry-red congestion at back and cardiac end, ecchymosis externally and internally, arborescent injection of chocolate – coloured blood at pyloric end externally. Duodenum showed m. m. congested and chocolate-coloured congestion externally. Slight congestion all through small and large intestines. Liver cherry – coloured on surface and throughout substance. Kidneys congested with cherry-coloured blood. Heart stopped in diastolic; blood of chocolate-colour, coagulated normally, and showed absorption bands resembling those of methaemoglobin.
1 c. In Meyer’s experiments, from 2.5 to 7 c. c. of solution of 1 of chromic acid to 2 of water were injected into two dogs subcutaneously. Death in 2 hours preceded by vomiting, retching, diarrhoea, restlessness, twitching of extremities, torpor, and convulsions. P. M. – Injection and swelling of m. m. of stomach and small intestines, latter filled with reddish, opaque, shiny masses, consisting of epithelium; ecchymoses near pylorus. Kidneys full of blood; ecchymosis of m. m. of bladder; urine albuminous and turbid.
1 d. In Gergen’s experiments on dogs chromic acid was injected into cord. Result was parenchymatous inflammation of kidneys with albuminuria and epithelial casts. P. M. – Kidneys full of blood, ecchymoses on cortex, cortical substance yellow, medullary substance dark red, cloudiness and fatty degeneration of epithelium, no change in interstitial tissue. In some cases injection and ecchymoses of vesical m. m. In rabbits after subcutaneous injection of 4 gr. of chromate of potash, death in 24 hours, with kidneys injected and many hemorrhagic infarctus. Urine albuminous. (Mat. Medorrhinum, Phys. and Applied, loc. cit.)
2. The second class furnishes the most important results The drug (chiefly as bichromate) was introduced endemically, hypodermically, or by mouth. With exception of ulcers in the prime vie effects were the same whether salt was given internally or inserted into a wound. In several cases poisoned in this last manner, Berndt analysed ejected matters, and also contents of stomach and bowels and the urine, without finding any trace of chrome in them. In those poisoned by the internal exhibition it was readily detected.
2 a. Symptoms usually manifested were vomiting, violent and often incessant, renewed after drinking, first of ingesta then of frothy or bloody mucus; finally retching. Pains and tenderness at belly; frequent purging of mucus and blood; quick pulse; at first great thirst, t then animals refused all food and drink; salivation; frequent micturition, nose stuffed; flow of mucus from mouth; cough and expectoration of thick ropy mucus; eyes covered with purulent secretion from conjunctiva which dimmed cornea, and when washed off was speedily renewed; rapid emaciation; great weakness, especially of hind legs, and finally loss of power of these. Dry, exanthematous eruption on back, with falling off of hair in several spots.
2 b. P. M. – In cases poisoned by internal administration, mouth and oesophagus were extensively ulcerated. In almost all cases, however drug was administered, stomach was acted on. There were red spots here and there; or (from endermic use) it was slightly inflamed, and had at bottom several extravasations between its coats, with similar patches in duodenum; or (dor.) cardiac half was healthy, but pyloric half coloured dark violet – red, though pylorus itself was free from inflammation. Cardiac orifice in other cases partook or neighboring inflammation. Ulceration as in mouth, where drug was given internally. Duodenum was even more constantly acted on than stomach, reddened when drug was endemically, ulcerated when it was internally administered. In one case of internal use there were numerous injected patches throughout small intestines, and in this and another a recent intussusception of the ileum. Sometimes colour and injection gradually died away, and were entirely absent in colon and rectum; but of 3 endermic cases, in 2 m. m. of caecal valve was reddened and had blackish spots on it, in one colon and rectum were deeply reddened and mesentery injected.
2 c. Liver in 2 cases dark brown, very friable, and full of blood In most gall-bladder was full of bile. In one liver presented appearance of alternate very dark and pale patches; and section had mottled appearance. In I there were yellow patches like those after phosphoric poisoning, and here microscope showed fatty granulations in hepatic cells. Kidneys in one case had tubuli much injected, and whole substance congested. In another, bladder and its immediate neighborhood were reddened.
2 d. In one case (endermic) nose full of purulent-looking mucus, which, however, did not reach into sinuses; conjunctiva was inflamed, and covered with same purulent-looking mucus; in upper larynx were found blood-stained coagulated masses, which could be separated from walls like a membrane; in bronchi also similar masses (which examination proved to be, not fibrin, but mucus coloured by blood.) In another (internal) epiglottis and rima glottidis congested and covered with thick ropy mucus; inner surface of larynx highly injected and covered with muco – purulent matter; trachea throughout whole extent very much injected, and lined with dirty, whitish coating like false membrane, which could be easily detached with back of scalpel; it did not reach below bifurcation, though redness extended into ramifications of bronchi as far as they could be traced; lungs apparently healthy. In another (internal) same thick purulent matter lined larynx and trachea, but there was no false membrane or injection. In another (internal) larynx and trachea vascular, and in trachea irregular longitudinal streaks and patches deeply injected, covered with viscid mucus similar to that vomited; injection continued to where bronchia began to divide in parenchyma, but lungs themselves were pale and bloodless. In another (endermic) larynx and trachea contained about a tablespoonful of healthy-looking pus; there was pus also in bronchial tubes. In another (internal) lungs were mottled but quite crepitant; there was a yellowish spot on surface of one inferior lobe.
2 e. Heart generally distended with blood in both cavities. In one case pericardium slightly injected, but no effusion. Brain and cord were generally normal, but in one or two cases were fuller of blood than usual, and of softer consistence. There was great emaciation. Irritability of muscles, especially of heart, diminished; muscles reddened as after poisoning with carbonic oxide. (Ibid.)
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.