Introduction
Alkaloid obtained from Opium, C18 H21 NO3. H2O.
Provings
1. In G. W -, aet. 17.2 gr. taken every other m. an hours before breakfast caused slight contraction of pupils, feeling of stiffness in integuments over forehead, and occasionally troublesome itching of skin, chiefly affecting forehead and shoulders. Same dose taken towards bedtime sometimes caused slight drowsiness, contraction of pupil from 1/5 to 1/3, and acceleration of pulse a few beats. (HARLEY, op. cit., p. 175.) 2. W. W -, aet. 19, took C. in increasing doses. No effects followed until dose reached 4 gr. Half an hours afterwards there was sudden increase in temp. of skin, and, to use his own expression, he “broke out into a feverish heat.” Pulse was slightly accelerated, pupils contracted, and there was considerable giddiness, obliging him to sit down for an h. After continuing 2 hours, these symptoms passed off. On one occasion he took food at end of 3 hours, but within an hours vomited it, and for some hours afterwards was troubled with rumbling and griping pain in belly. On another occasion these symptoms recurred, but the nausea did not end in vomiting, and it passed off after two loose stools. There was no inclination to sleep on either occasion. (Ibid.)
3. S. M -, aet. 49. Pulse 74, pupils at light 1/9, aside 1/6. 3a. Injected subcutaneously 1 gr. of C. 20 m., pulse unchanged; felt a little heavy. 1 hours, pulse 68; pupils 1/1, aside 1/8. Was drowsy. 2 hours, pulse 64; pupils as before; somnolency passed off. A little heaviness continued for the following h. There were no after – effects.
3b. Injected at 7:45 p. m. gr. 1 1/2. Resp. 19; urine acid, sp. gr. 1026.4; skin sweating. Had taken a chop and tea at 6 p. m. Somnolency came on in 1/4 hours 1 h, pulse accelerated 15 beats, fuller and stronger; pupils 1/10, sideways 1/8; was drowsy, but presented no appearance of heaviness. 2 1/4 hours, pulse accelerated 10 beats, of same volume and power as before injection; resp. 18; pupils as at first hours; anterior part of tongue and hard palate a little dry; had been very drowsy during the last hours, and still continued heavy, snappish, and sleepy. The looks betokened heaviness, and the membranes of the eye were slightly injected; skin moist and cool; no nausea. Passed, after a prolonged effort, nearly 3ij of urine, of sp. gr. 1024, otherwise resembling that passed before the injection. Walked home, still feeling a little drowsy. slept well; no after – effects.
3c. Injected 2 gr.; pulse 74, tongue wet and clean. 1 hours, pulse accelerated 8 beats, unchanged; pupils 1/11, sideways 1/8. somnolency came on after 1/4 hours, and continued, but as yet he had not slept. 2 hours, acceleration of pulse continued, it was now slightly increased in volume and power. Had slept for 1/2 h. Felt a little squeamish. 3 hours, pulse accelerated 4 beats, of same volume and power as before injection; pupils contracted as before, sclerotic a little injected; anterior part of tongue dry. The nausea continued for an hours, and was accompanied by general warmth and itching of skin, especially between shoulders. Still continued to feel drowsy. The somnolency passed off as he walked home. There were no after – effects. (Ibid.)
4. In the dose of 0.1 grm. C. caused increasing bitter taste, frequent eructation, violent pains in stomach, nausea, inclination to vomit, salivation, confusion and heat of head, feeling of pressure in forehead and temples, occasional tinnitus aurium, weak sight, inability to engage in mental work; pulse slow (in one observer it went down 28 beats in the first 4 hours), small and weak. After 4 hours trembling of whole body, lasting several hours till he went to sleep. Next day drowsiness, slowness of flow of ideas, diminished attention. In one prover it caused feeling of pleasant warmth confusion of head, dysuria, and sleepiness. (SCHROFF, op. cit., 516.)
5. I gave the crystallized nitrate to several of my pupils, taking it myself also. No one felt anything up to 3 gr., but 4 – 6 gr. produced somewhat remarkable effects, – at first, acceleration of pulse and heat in head and face; then striking mental excitement like that produced by intoxicating drinks, a pleasant feeling and lasting some time. It was accompanied by very pronounced itching, beginning in head and spreading over whole body. After some hours this state was followed by a disagreeable depression, with nausea and occasional vomiting. None of us observed the least tendency to sleep, except after the stage of depression. We did not push the dosage further. ( GREGORY, Journ. de Pharm., xx, 85. 1834.).
Poisonings
1. A man, depressed and languid had for some time been passing large quantities of urine (sp. gr. 1038), containing a great quantity of oxalate lime in octahedral crystals and abundance of sugar. One m. he took a pill containing 4 gr. C. and 1/20 gr. sulphate of strychnia at 9:30. Soon after 10 he felt uncommonly jolly, as if to anything. Had a genial glow all over him. After walking 2 hours he sat down to write, and could not see letters distinctly. Suddenly sight failed him and he felt the room going round. He got into the open air, feeling very bewildered. he knew he met two ladies, recognising their voices, but could not speak to them. At 1:30 he was standing indoors with a terrified look, was very pale, and had large beads of sweat on his forehead. Pupils slightly contracted, radial pulse scarcely perceptible, surface of body cold and clammy, and voice reduced to a whisper. Had vomited a mouthful. Said he felt “sick as death.” A tumbler of hot water containing brandy and ammonia was immediately ejected. Lay down, and was wrapped in warm rugs. In 1/2 hours began to improve, was not sleepy, only terrible sick, as after smoking a lot of bad tobacco. He remained thus till 10 p. m. On slightest movement, m began to retch violently. No sleep all n., slightly delirious. Got up at 9 a. m., very sick and ill. Pulse 56, surface cool, face pale, pupils much contracted. Had passed about 6 oz. urine, sp. gr. 1018, no sugar, oxalates plentiful. No appetite all d. After tea and toast in evening he went to bed, slept well and felt himself in m. ( A.S. MYRTLE, M. day, Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1874, i, 478.).
Experiments on animals
1. a. HARLEY injected gr. 1.07 beneath skin of a bitch that was very susceptible to action of morphia. Eyelids became swollen in 20 m., and continued so for 25 m. more. Pulse fell in 3/4 hours from 120 to 80, and thence to 64, always accelerated by inspiration. She remained very quiet and timid, as if feeling poorly, till 9th hours, when she had returned to her usual condition. Till then no excretion had been passed. For first 3 hours there was nausea, and during part of this time a little tendency to sleep, but she did not close her eyes throughout. Pupils were unaffected; secretions of mouth increased. Later, she received 2 gr., without any other effect. He then injected 3 gr. into a stout beagle weighing about 40 lb.; and, there being no change in 1/2 hours, 3 gr. more. Within a few m. followed whining and restlessness, and repeated action of bowels. After 2 hours resp. was irregular, wholly abdominal, “expiration consisting in a prolonged collapse of abdominal muscles, accompanied by a subdued whine ending with a slight grunt.” Heart’s action weak and irregular; pulse 65, respiratory. Pupils contracted closely at light. After 3 1/4 hours resp. was 8 only, but now thorax moved slightly; pulse 84, very feeble, ranging 60 – 12 during each inspiration. Dog lay down most of time, but walked well though feebly. After 6th hours gradual recovery ensued, but he continued for some time in a restless whining state, not lying more than 2 – 3 m. in same place. As he lay down his flaccid legs were slightly jerked with faint spasms; at 2nd hours muscles of chest occasionally quivered with a much stronger spasm.
1b. In the mouse C. produced the same effect as morphia (II, 6); but the forward movements were after a time performed by a series of little jerks, and then tetanic convulsions came on, in which respiration (previously shallow and irregular) became arrested, and death ensued. P. m., left heart was empty, pale, and contracted; right distended. (Opium cit., p. 170.)
The other alkaloids of Opium must be more briefly presented.
Cryptopia. – This has received little examination save from Harley (op. cit., p. 156 – 168), who has experimented on man, m on the dog, and on the mouse. His conclusions are as follows: – 1. Cryptopia, like morphia, has two distinct effects, an hypnotic, and an excitant of a most remarkable and exceptional kind, dependent partly upon an illusion of vision, and partly upon a tendency to convulsive action. (This is in animals; H – says: “I have as yet been unable, after careful inquiries, to detect the slightest tendency to illusory or other excitant effects in man.”) 2. The hypnotic effect is both considerable and protracted in those who are readily calmed by morphia. No unpleasant effects have followed its use (in man). 3. Its action upon the respiratory function is first stimulant, but subsequently depressant, and death is the direct consequence of this depressive effect. 4. The effect on the heart’s action is regulated by that on the breathing, and is therefore indirect. 5. In large doses C. causes dilatation of pupils.
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.