Introduction
Erythroxylon Coca, Lam. Coca leaves. Nat. Ord., Erythroxylaceae.
Provings.
I. Dr. RAUCH, aet. 45, tall, thin, strong, and healthy. October 31st, 1855, at 7 a. m., took 3 dr. of 2x dil. In 20 minutes borborygmus, flatulent discharge, and stool earlier and looser than usual; at 8:45 passing stitches in left side, increased by deep breathing; at 9:30 constriction of chest, succeeded by fulness in and below epigastrium. All symptoms disappeared after dinner, but pulse was weak and quicker than usual until night. November 2nd. – Took 5 dr. of 1x dil. at 7 a. m. In 5 minutes borborygmus and flatulent discharge came on; stool soft but at normal time; borborygmus, etc., continued into afternoon; since 9 a. m. pulse small, quick, and weak; craving for food earlier than usual, though epigastric region felt full. 4th. – 5 dr. of 2 x at 7 a. m. Frequent sneezing and urging to stool prematurely, but other symptoms did not appear. 7th. – 10 dr. at 6 a. m. At 6:30 borborygmus; nothing else. 8th. -15 dr. at 9 a. m. Borborygmus; slight giddiness (objects revolving) on going into open air for an hour.[On 9th and 10th, cough with thick, whitish-yellow expectoration, and on 11th and 12th severe attacks of flatulent colic, both dubious results of medicine, of which no more was taken. – EDS.] (Cl. MULLER’S provings, Hom. Viertelj., vii, 4, 443.)
2. Dr. REICHENBACH, aet. 35, slender and delicate, liable to headache and feverish attacks after any exertion, which, however, soon pass off. July first, 1855, – At 6 a. m. took 10 dr. of 2x dil. At 8 giddiness on climbing steep staircase followed by one loose stool. On send took 10 dr., and on 3rd 25 dr. without effect. 4th. – at 7 a. m., 25 dr. of left. At 7:30, giddiness for 1/2 hour, relieved by rest and a glass of wine. In evening felt sleepy very early, but could not sleep; was wakeful in bed, and felt heat with throbbing of temporal arteries till midnight. Next day very irritable, chilly; in evening weak and tired. 6th. – At 6 a. m, 10 dr. of tinct. At 8, feeling in head of great exhaustion; fishing before eyes like distant lightning. 7th. – Sat up till 3 a. m. writing letters, then, after coffee, took 10 dr. Felt extraordinary well, lively, and ready for work till noon; in evening same fleshes as yesterday. 8th. – at 4 a. m., on returning from an accouchement took 25 dr. At 4:15, much exhausted and sleepy; at 5:30 could hardly keep eyes open; after coffee for 1.1/2 hours much brighter, but then great weariness so that he could not hardly get through his work; beer had no influence; in evening flashes as before. Went early to bed, but was sleepless, and burdened by thoughts, also shivery. Rose at 11, and worked till 2 a. m. perfectly awake; then quiet sleep. 9th. – Abstained from coffee. Very great weariness; eyes painful; white specks before them, so that book he was reading appeared marked; little appetite, slimy taste. Quite overcome with sleep during dinner, and did not awake for an hour, when specks had disappeared, but on attempting to read drawing in occiput was felt extending to temples, lasting all afternoon. At night profound sleep. 10th. – Giddy and weary; involuntary quick steeping when walking, head inclined forward with fear of falling. Little appetite to for meal. P. M., fever and great weakness, relieved by wine. Weary in evening, but sleepless in bed. At 11 p. m. took 10 dr. After temporary sleepiness great wakefulness till 4 a. m., then quiet sleep till 7. 11th. – Lively and strong all day. Took 10 dr. in evening Sleepiness night. Very poorly all next day, but slept soundly, and on 13th felt well. ON 14th took, early, 25 dr. NO effect save spoiled taste at breakfast. 23rd, – Took 65 dr. before dinner. Giddiness, whirling in head. On going out after dinner white specks and bright serpentine lines before eyes, with great weariness for an hour; then pressive headache on right side and in occiput, with giddiness and chilliness. These symptoms disappeared towards evening; then indigestion with tasteless eructations, nausea, and with shivering, giddiness, and fever, crowding of thoughts and solicitude. Sleeplessness till 2 a. m., ending in sweating, rest, and sleep Awoke early; liquid stool and indigestion. P.m., faintness, pain in occiput. 25th. – Diarrhoea and loss of appetite. P. m., same as yesterday, but with shivering and slight fever. 26th. – Poor appetite, soon satiated; coated tongue and slimy taste, with a little fever. Occipital headache p. m. with fever. 27th. – Two loose stools without other symptoms save weakness. On October. 11th took 25 dr. of a fresh tinct. Pressing pain in right cheek-bone. 12th. -50 dr. Giddiness, pressure in occiput. P. m., headache, as if catarrhal, with cold feet and unusual urging to stool. 13th. – More headache with shivering. 14th. – 60 dr. in morning. P. m., weariness with giddiness and headache (forehead and occiput), and shivering. 15th. – Slight headache p. m., with some shivering. 16th. – Unusual urging to stool, but no diarrhoea; otherwise quite well. (Ibid.)
3. Dr. KALLENBACH, aet 27, in good health. Having taken on several occasions at intervals of some during small doses of 5 – 10 dr. of tinct. He observed nothing more than humming of ears. On May 16th, at noon, took 5 dr. Feeling of deafness in both ears (as if something had happened there), but he still heard as clearly as before; audible pulsations in both ears, singing in left 17th. – Still feeling of deafness. On reading aloud, feeling as if membrana tympani were pressed outward by the sounds, or as if they reached ear only through a thick medium. Pulsation and humming in both ears, in forenoon. By evening all symptoms had disappeared but there was cracking in ears on empty deglutition. (Ibid.)
4. a. Dr. C. MULLER. – In good health, but has some emphysema, causing slight dyspnoea and palpitation at times. But slightly sensitive to medicinal action. October 28th, 1853. -= Masticated half a leaf. 29th. – In forenoon much oppression on chest and dyspnoea, especially on ascending. P. m., unusual sense of fulness in stomach, abdomen, and chest, with eructation, and no inclination or ability for work. 30th. – In morning dr. Less dyspnoea than before, and on 2nd and 3rd, no med. being taken, less than usual. Felt very hungry at 11 a. m., and ate dinner with much appetite, of which I had not been conscious while taking drug.
4 b. June 30th, 1855, – Took 5 dr. of tinct. at 8 a. m. In 1 hour much eructation, lasting 2 hours, but accompanied with unusual freedom in breathing, and inclination to walk fast and far; yawning and sleepiness when sitting. Great appetite from 11; after 12 singular feeling of emptiness of stomach and abdomen, and in walking painful contractive sensation in stomach, and near it on left pain like a splenic stitch. Ate much more than usual at dinner and supper without subsequent fulness. Great sleepiness towards 5 p. m. for an hour. July first. – On waking after a comfortable night sense of dryness in throat, which, on swallowing, felt as if swollen, disappearing in 10 m. At 8 a. m., 10dr. Towards 9 same sensation in the throat for 2 hours, recurring in evening; uvula actually swollen. After 10 borborygmus, emptiness, and hunger, stitches in spleen; these last also recurring in evening while walking obliging him to stand still for 10 minutes appetite as before. 2nd- After good
night throat as before and same splenic pain for 5 m. Throughout day painful lameness in 4th and 5th fingers of right hand, especially stretching them out or grasping anything without external tenderness. Dysphagia, though less, continued all day. During next day throat almost well, but fingers were same, and firmer pressure brought out some tenderness. On 4th, fingers right, throat nearly so. On 5th, well. ON 6th, early, took 30 dr. In 10 m. slight eructations, followed by slight attack of giddiness when walking, with sensation as if body were drawn towards right side, lasting some m. In 1/2 hour slight dyspnoea and oppression on ascending stairs, recurring in evening whilst waking slowly, with former affection of uvula. later, whilst sitting, an almost painful weight on chest, with constant necessity to inspire very deeply; extraordinary weariness after a moderate walk. Dyspnoea even when in bed, and palpitation, with same weariness. 7th. – On waking early, same pain in throat, with dyspnoea and distension of stomach. At 8 a. m., 40 dr. In 10 m. frequent yawning, continuing all forenoon; in 25 m. vertigo on sitting down and again on rising; constant dyspnoea on exertion, with craving for deep inspiration, as if to breathe away something Momentary darkness before eyes about 11; a hearty meal with good appetite at noon; woke from siesta with sudden jerk; pain in throat much less. Towards 4 p. m., black specks flying before eyes; two stools to-day (most unusual). 8th. – Scarcely any dyspnoea, but greet weakness and weariness in forenoon. 9th. – Well. 10th. At 8 a. m., 60 dr. Towards 9, yawning, but no sleepiness, in open (warm) air; between 11 and 12, in cool room, felt very sleepy and head ached, both, however, disappearing on again going into open air. 11th. – On awaking, pain in muscles of forearm, on edge of radius, on moving it or on pressure, as if from a violent blow; pain lasted throughout day, and was very violent, but there was nothing to be seen. 12th. – Still pain in arm on pressure, but more on motion; bad taste on waking, poor appetite; fullness of stomach with continual urging to eructate for 3 hours, recurring after dinner, and lasting till evening.
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.