14. sulphate of C. applied to the mucous membrane of the mouth produces a sensation of tolerable bitterness, which disappears promptly on rinsing the mouth two or three times; at first the mouth becomes dry, then the secretion of saliva is augmented, but remains viscid and frothy; on increasing the dose, the nasal fossae participate in this condition, a sensation of warmth is experienced at the epigastrium, together with a slight tendency to vomit, and an insignificant amount of pain, which may extend over the entire abdomen. Given in powder or dissolved, it is easily absorbed; from the stomach and intestines it passes promptly into the blood and the secretions. The influence of sulphate of C. upon the circulation is but slightly appreciable in a dose of from grm. 0.10 to 0.25; but in doses larger than this, up to 0.70, the pulse is quickened, the heart palpitates; precordial pain supervenes, which appears to embrace the entire left side of the chest; the respiration becomes embarrassed and slowed; on standing up the legs yield, the arms become heavy, and sometimes syncope ensues; the skin becomes hot, the face animated, the eyes brilliant, heavy and difficult to open; sometimes the pupil dilates, at other times contracts. With a dose of 0.70 the head becomes heavy and aching. In this dose the drug produces a very remarkable feeling of compression. A species of transient intoxication ensues. In large doses, humming noises in the ears as with sulphate of quinine, but this phenomenon is less constant; a desire to sleep, and if sleep comes if it is accompanied by strange dreams. In a case observed by M. Grisolle, where the subject had taken grm. 2:50, retention of urine manifested itself, but the pulse remained at 55. (BOUCHARDAT, DELONDRE and GIRAULT, L’ Annuire le Therapeutique, 1856. p. 22.).
Poisonings
1. Twelve out of twenty-three patients (intermittent fever), treated with various doses of C. sulph, have experienced symptoms of uneasiness due to the medicine. One of these is constant headache, occupying frontal region and temples. The patients feel constriction of the whole anterior part of the head, varying much in intensity, sometimes intolerable. I have never seen the headache extend to or attack only the hind part. Once I observed vertigo and acute pain in the limbs. (MOUTARD-MARTIN, Mem. de I’ Acad. Imp. de Med., T, xxiv.)
2. Of 198 patients subjected to administration of sulph. of C., 94 had no trouble, 80 had cephalgia, 40 buzzing and whistling in ears, 33 vertigo and dizziness, 44 trouble of vision, 46 titulation, 8 epigastralgia, 4 nausea, 8 colic. (LEVY, L’ Union Medicale, vi, 163.).
Experiments on animals
1. BRIQUET found injection of 2 grm. into jugular of 3 dogs produce in 3 instant death (apparently from weakening of heart); in 2 convulsions, passing off in 1, in other becoming more intense, and ending in death from meningitis (post – mortem examination). (Opium 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.