4. Dr. L. B. WELLS, aet. 38, bilious temp., dark hair and complexion, Dec. 9th, 1852, took at 7 a. m. 3 dr. of 1st dil. At 10, dull boring pain forehead over left superciliary ridge, lasting 2 hours; later, occasional transient paid in corresponding spot on right 10th. – at 9 a. m. a dull heavy headache, most in left temple; increased flow of urine 11th. – At 7 a. m., 3 dr. Soon after, nausea with loathing; in 1 hour pain in forehead and occiput with heaviness of head. Pain in head continued for 10 days, followed by coryza, with sore – throat and gradual involvement of bronchial m. m.; dry, short, hacking cough night and day, for 2 weeks. This is uncommon, from not having had a catarrh for several years. (Ibid.)
5. Dr. LUTHER WELLS, aet. 60, sanguine temp., took, Aug. 13th, 3 dr. of tinct.; on 14th, same dose twice; on 15th, 4 drops 3 times; and thus, increasing 1 dr. each day to 18th. On 19th, took 10 dr. 3 times. Only symptom experienced was pain from eyes to top of head, which seemed as if nerves were over – excited; lasting 3 hours. On another occasion, commenced by taking 3 dr., and gradually increased to 40 dr. a day, in all 178 dr. Pain as before, more severe, lasting 6 hours. In a third proving, began with 6 dr., and in 7 days gradually increased to 60 dr. a day, in all 210 dr. After having taken medicine 4 days, experienced same pain as before in head. (Ibid.)
6. Dr. MEARS took 3ss of pulverised root with little or no effect. He then took a teaspoonful of a saturated tincture every 10 morning till he had consumed 3j. In 1 hour from commencing to take it had severe pains in head, with much somnolency, and coldness. In 1 hour more he felt warm, and was so drowsy that he lay down and slept for another hour. When he awoke, he had most distressing pain in head with vertigo, flushed face, dilated pupils, and pulse 12 beats above normal; also soon, great uneasiness in stomach. All these symptoms soon subsided save pain in head, which continued about 9 hours. (HEMPEL, Mat. Medorrhinum, 2nd ed., ii, 506.)
7. a. C. H. BURR took, Aug. 25th, 1858, 10 dr. of fluid extr. pulse being 78, skin warm and moist. First symptom was sharp cutting pain in right temple, immediately followed by dull heavy pain in back, in region of right kidney. Pain was then felt in forehead, seeming to proceed from right temple in burning lines. After 20 minutes pulse was 86, full, hard, irregular;pain in back continuous, increased by motion; sharp wandering pains felt in left ankle and scapula. At close of first hour pulse 72; pain in head continued, with sense of fulness and heat. Dose was now repeated every hour till 14 had been taken, and following symptoms were noted during the time: – Pain in region of heart followed by slight palpitation; constriction of pharynx, with much mucus in throat; pain and heat in stomach, relieved by eructation; pain, heat and fulness in head continuous, with sense of drowsiness; sharp cutting neuralgic pains in arms, right wrist and fingers, with pain in legs, feet and nucha, where it seemed to produce stiffness. At 6th hour pain in region of heart was continuous, with frequent paroxysms of palpitation; pulse went down to 69; surface of body, together with that of face and hands, became cool and dry. After taking a full inspiration, feeling as if there was a slight contraction in bronchial tubes which rendered expiration somewhat difficult. Sense of heat in stomach continued, with feeling of warmth and dryness in whole alimentary canal. Next day no digestive disturbance, and eating seemed rather to relieve; heat, pain and weariness in region of kidneys was most marked symptom.
Urine was acrid, of sp. gr. 1020, yielding abundant crystals (nitrate of urea) on addition of nitric acid. Clear on passing, after standing for 24 hours uric acid lay at bottom of vessel in form of yellow sand, while above it floated a cloud of mucus and urate of ammonia. Urine passed between 24th and 48th hours had same characters when passed, but no deposit occurred on standing.
7 b. After 24 hours, 12 hourly doses of 15 dr. each were taken. Action was more marked than in former proving, but no new symptoms were noticed, simply increased severity. Pain in head seemed to extend over and through whole brain, producing distinct sense of soreness in occipital region much increased by motion. There was also great heat and fulness in head, still more copious secretion of mucus in throat, and unpleasant taste in mouth. Skin was dry and hot; pulse about 80; pain in renal region much more marked and severe, and general uneasiness and disturbance in whole system was such that it was difficult to fix attention on any subject of business or study. Action on bowels was such as to produce constipation, but no unpleasant sensations were noticed, save some degree of heat in alimentary canal during first hour.
Effect on urine was at first to increase frequency and quantity, and reduce sp. gr. to 1005, from which it soon rose to 1020, where it remained. After 24 hours urine was strongly acid and had dull cloudy appearance. Examination showed thousand of fibrinous tube – casts, about 1/8 inch in length, with minute lozenge – shaped crystals of uric acid adhering to their sides. On addition of a few drops of hydrochloric acid, quite an abundant deposit was thrown down, presenting variety of colours peculiar to these crystals (Ibid. p. 507).
8. a. Dr. BACMEISTER took 1/2 teaspoonful of tinct, in evening. December 8th, 1870. Slept as usual. In early morning dull pain in small of back, both sides of spine; general internal nervous chilly feeling all over, but less over back; trembling of fingers when writing. At 10 a. m., feeling of lateral expansion and pressure outwards in both malar bones and forehead; much tremor; nervous shuddering through upper and back part of body; flushes of heat in cheeks; lancing aching pain in left elbow, anteriorly; all day nervous, full of work and doing it fast.
8 b. Took same dose Jan. 7th, and repeated it next morning. No symptoms 1st day; on 2nd, during forenoon, sense of empty aching all along oesophagus; after hearty dinner, headache in left frontal region, continuing at intervals during rest of day. Worse out of doors; frequent eructations; drowsiness, finally sound sleep; after it headache as before, worse during walk out of doors, better after entering a room. While walking out sense of aching and shortening in left tendo Achillis. Desire for tobacco decidedly weakened. No further symptoms. (Trans. of Am. Inst. of Hom., 1871, p. 209).
9. a. Mrs. B -, after taking same dose in evening of December 9th, became unwell next morning, with wandering pain in back and around through hips inside, lasting all forenoon; quite severe at 10, when she was obliged to lie down. Has never had so much pain during menses. Soreness in lower abdomen; all pains worse from movement, backache better from pressure. The usual headache has not appeared. In afternoon depression and dulness; chilliness; lameness in right leg, worse when bending forward, soreness and stiffness moving to inner ankle; flow more profuse since 5 p. m.; bruised sore feeling in vagina.
9 b. January 7th, at 8 a. m., repeated dose. At 10, nausea all through abdomen, followed by loose stool, accompanied by sharp pain in abdomen and considerable downward pressure in rectum. During afternoon, chilliness in back; peculiar uneasiness in teeth, wants to chew or pick at them. Next day similar symptoms; towards evening soreness, aching and stiffness in region of tendo Achillis, aggravated by walking. No symptoms after this. (Ibid.)
10. Mr. W -, aet. 21, began April 6th, 1871, to take 10 dr. of tinct. every 4 hours. In afternoon felt as if he could not keep awake, but must lie down and go to sleep. Peculiar tingling in muscles, followed by aching pain in limbs from above downward. 7th. – Terrible backache; pain in limbs; fulness and pressure in brain; twitching of fingers and toes; pain in right great toe; very sleepy. 8th. – Chilly in bed before rising; cold sweat on hands and feet; other symptoms about the same; feels bad generally; will take no more medicine. 9th. Frontal headache; back and limbs ache less; feels very tired and worn out; shooting pain over left eye; urine scanty and high – coloured; dull aching pain in eyes; cannot sleep at night. 10th. – Better. (Ibid., 1872, p. 199.)
11. a. FRANKLIN BIGELOW, medical student, took, Sept. 29th, 1852, at 3 p. m. 25 dr. of tinct. (prepared from dried root gathered in spring.) At 10 next morning dull oppressive headache came on; pain most severe in forehead, but extending over vertex down to occiput. On walking out into open air, pains in muscles of legs as from great fatigue, especially in anterior part of thighs. Great disposition to yawn and drowse. Sleep disturbed by dreams of accidents, seeing limbs broken, great suffering, & c. On following morning awoke at 3 with severe cutting pains and great uneasiness in hypogastric region, with urgent desire for stool, which was very thin and partly undigested. Great uneasiness in bowels all forenoon, without much desire for stool, but sensation as though it might soon come. Next morning again awoke at 3, with hypogastric pain and thin undigested diarrhoea; latter occurred every 4 to 5 hours during day. Next day nothing but weakness and languor.
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.