14. SARAH A. FERGUSON, M. D., took a strong infusion in tea – or tablespoonful dose one or more time a during for 8 days. (None on 5th days.) On first day, after 1 hour dull frontal headache, relieved somewhat on walking a mile, returning on coming indoors, with heavy feeling of eyelids, and lasted (from 9 a. m.) till setting on sun, when it was followed by a state of mental exhilaration. On 2nd days, from 7 to 10 a. m., “felt like work;” after that dull frontal headache for rest of day. On 3rd and 4th day, same headache, relieved after eating, and leaving at sunset. On 5th days, same headache, relieved by open air; heavy eyelids; burning redness of cheeks, first left then right, with white spot in centre of latter; weary, no inclination to work. On 8th days, mental depression. (Ibid.)
15. Dr. G. W. POPE on several occasions took strong decoction, or chewed and swallowed a handful of leaves. Either was followed by a total disinclination to eat or sleep for 12-14 hours according to quantity taken. If taken in afternoon, according to quantity taken. If taken in afternoon, he would pass night in reading or writing, and felt no fatigue in morning. (Ibid.)
16. It has long since been remarked by the oldest observers that by the regular employment of the coca the Indians (of Peru) require very little nourishment, and with a double quantity scarcely need anything. (VON TSCHUDI, quoted in Ibid.)
17. After chewing a drachm of the leaves: increased saliva; bitter, afterwards aromatic taste; feeling of comfort in stomach as after a good dinner. After the 2nd or 3rd dose, slight burning in mouth and fauces with increased thirst; the digestion seemed to take place quickly, the feces gradually lose their stercoraceous smell. After employing it on self and others for several days there occurred circumscribed erythema, an exanthem like pityriasis round eyelids; next disagreeable prickling and thing here and there on skin. Under the use of an infusion of the leaves, the pulse gradually grew quicker, the heat’s activity was increased fourfold. After taking an infusion of 3iij of the leaves there occurred a febrile state with elevated temperature of skin, palpitation of heart, vision of sparks, headache and vertigo. Pulse rose from 70 to 134, peculiar rushing noise in ears, desire for open air, expansion of sphere of vision, a peculiar indescribable feeling of increased strength, agility and desire for work, which soon gave place to an exaltation like that caused by alcohol. But though thus mentally excited he could write with fluency an regularity. When he had taken 4 drachms there came on peculiar feeling of isolation from the outer world, and great inclination to do feat of strength, so that though in his normal state he carefully avoided anything like gymnastics exercises, he now leaped up on his desk with cat-like agility without upsetting anything on the desk. There then came on a kind of rigidity, but with a feeling of blissful comfort, t the consciousness remaining perfect, and he felt a great wish to pass the whole day without moving so much as finger. Then he slept and had a succession of grotesque dreams lasting all day without leaving any feeling of weakness or dysphoria. He increased the dose to 18 drachms in a day, when his pulse was up to 134, and in his delirium he wrote down: “God is unjust because He has made man incapable of living always under the influence of coca. I would prefer to live ten years with coca then 10,000 centuries without it. ” A sleep of 3 hours restored him completely and he could immediately pursue his daily duties without the slightest feeling of illness, but, on the contrary, with unusual ease. He passed 40 hours without taking the slightest nourishment, and then he ate his dinner, and digested it perfectly. IN 2 cases he observed a marked increase of the sexual powers. (MONTEGASSA, On the Hygienic and Medicinal Value of Coca in South America, Hom. Vierteljahrsch., xi, 203.).
18. F – took from February 24th to March 8th daily 1 or 2 small cups of infusion of leaves, 1 or 2 hours before or soon after a meal. After the dose felt peculiarly comfortable, and slight warmth all over body which came from stomach. Pulse slightly quickened from 1 to 3 hours. Urine acid, smelt of sweat; faces not fetid. (He suffers habitually from slow digestion, megrim, distension of abdomen, pressure and tension in hypochondrium after eating, loss of appetite, thickly furred tongue, and bad taste in morning. All these symptoms disappeared while taking the med.). He was cheerful and disposed for mental work, sleep undisturbed, felt refreshed in morning, which is not usually the case. Excesses in diet were not followed by any discomfort when he took a cup of the infusion before or after. (JOBS. FRANKL, Zeitsch. d. Ges. d. Aerzte in Wien, 1860, 13, 14).
19. Dr. ISAAC OTT observed his urine on a regular diet for 5 days, during which his health was excellent, and then took on 1 day 3j, on 4 following 3ij of coca leaves at each of his three meals. “On comparison of the averages of each 5 days, we find that the addition of the coca decreased the quantity of urine 47:60 centimeters; of the urea, 2.0101 grm.; of chloride of sodium, 3.4167 grm.; of sulphuric acid, 0.2948 grm.; of free acid, 0.6945 grm.; and increased our weight 1/8 1b., and the phosphoric acid in the urine.0090 grm. During the period of these last experiments our sleep was somewhat disturbed, with frequent headache, and slightly diminished appetite. Microscopically, we found in the urine an abundance of octahedral crystals of oxalate of lime of all sizes, which were got rid of by filtration; but on micro – chemical examination of the leaves, we found quadratic crystals, soluble in hydrochloric acid, but not in acetic, which we believe to be oxalate of lime crystals, and the source of those in the urine. ” (Phil. Medorrhinum Times, i, 56.).
Poisonings.
1 a. All who habitually chew the coca have an extremely disagreeable perspiration, an offensive breath, pale lips and gum, blunt teeth, and a disgusting blackish corner of the mouth. The inveterate chewers, the so-called Coqueros, are recognised at the first glance by their tottering gait; flaccid grayish -yellow skin; hollow, dull eyes, surrounded by bluish-brown circles quivering lips; incoherent discourse and dull apathetic manner. Their character is mistrustful, irresolute, malicious; they become aged when scarcely entered upon maturity; and should they attain old age there is imbecility. Timidity causes them to flee the society of their fellow-men, and seek concealment in gloomy woods or lonely dwellings, where they give themselves up for days together to the passionate enjoyment of the leaves. Then their excited imaginations conjure up the most wonderful visions, at one time consisting of incredibly beautiful and delightful forms, at another, however, or the most horrid figures. They crouch in a corner, with eyes staring and fixed on the ground, the automation-like movement of the hand as it places the coca in the mouth, followed by the mechanical mastication, alone indicating that consciousness exists. Sometimes a hollow groan is forced from the breast, probably when the excited imagination conjures up its scenes or horror, which can as little be scared away as the pleasant dreams at other times.
1 b. The Indians, by the continued use of coca, suffer from intolerance of light, attended with a surprising dilatation of the pupils. This is markedly seen among the Coqueros on returning from their solitary indulgence. I have produced the symptoms by dropping into the eye a strong decoction of the leaves. (VON TSCHUDI loc. cit.)
2. Debility of the digestive organs is the first symptom which attacks the Coqueros; at first it seems to be slight uneasiness, and may then be confounded with indigestion, but it soon reached a frightful intensity. Bilious affections now make their appearance, with their numerous tormenting sufferings common under a tropical sky; of these constipation is of so frequent occurrence that from it prominence in the disorder this has been called “epilacion. ” When jaundice occurs, indications gradually follow which show more clearly the shattered condition of the nervous system; the patient complaints of headache and similar sufferings, gets weaker, can scarcely take any food, and quickly becomes emaciated. This state is often succeeded by a kind of anaemia; the bilious tint gives way to a leaden colour (in whites). An insufferable sleeplessness sets in, which in fact affects even those who do not take the coca in excess. The appetite is extremely irregular, for the aversion to all food is often suddenly followed by an insatiable craving, especially for animal food. Partial oedematous swellings arise, and subsequently terminate in ascites; while the aching of the limbs is for a short time relieved by the appearance of frankly. The disposition of the patient is very changeable; he is usually very wayward, and often yield to an unbridled passion for brandy. The effect of his excesses on the mind, independent of this, is great; the passion for solitude is injurious; and though the mental faculties may not suffer so much as from alcohol, the moral consequences are very similar. (POPPIG, loc. 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.