Meconinum. – This, too, is chiefly known – pathogenetically – through Harley (pp. 151 – 156). Administered by the stomach, it has no effect, or so slight a one as to be inappreciable. By the skin, gr. 1/2 to 2 is tranquillising and hypnotic, and is not followed by any unpleasant results. In animals similar effects were observed; but when gr. 3/4 proved fatal to a vigorous mouse (p.347), there were convulsions before death, and for 10 m. after. The kidneys were congested, the bladder distended, and the urine (as did that passed 2 hours after the dose.) contained many blood – corpuscles.
Narceinum has been declared by Bernard, Behier, Debout, Line, and Eulenburg to possess narcotic power secondary only to that of morphia. Da Costa and Harley find it much less active, and ascribe its efficacy in the hands of the French observers to admixture with codeia or meconine. such as it is, it seems purely hypnotic, and its action leaves no disagreeable after – effects. Anuria and dysuria have been noted from its use; but Harley considers these mechanical effects, its insolubility leading to its precipitation in the urinary passages. In animals, given in sufficient dose, it kills by paralysing the respiration, without producing convulsion. (HARLE, op. cit.)
Narcotinum appears to be, in the lower animals, a convulsant. Schroff and Tully have proved it on the human subject. The former found in the dose of 7 to 15 centigr. at first increased quickness of pulse by 6 – 11 beats, then as many beats under normal. The temperature first rose 0.2 degree C., then sank 0.28 degree C. Taste insipid, not bitter; sometimes scrappy feeling. Soon after taking it a transient headache with humming in head, redness of face, injection of eyes, dilatation of pupil, increased transpiration, peculiar disagreeable formication in limbs, agreeable warmth in chest, deeper breathing, pleasant disposition, weakness and drowsiness, followed by coldness and rigor, especially in back. The muriate in doses of 2 decigr. caused disgusting, bitter, astringent and acrid taste. After 1 hours rigor all over body, slight pressure in forehead, heat and redness of face. (Lehrb. d. Pharm.)
Prof. Tully proved N. on eight persons. In the first, 2 gr. at 10 a. m. reduced pulse from 70 to 60 in 1/2 h. Four gr. more, taken at 4, brought it down by 5 to 52, and it was softer and more compressible. By 5:30 there was also mazy and confused feel of head; by 6 considerable languor, perspiration, and vertigo increased on motion; by 7 much somnolency, disagreeable sensation in epigastrium, itching of surface, and hoarseness; by 7:30, slight thickness of speech and vacillation of gait, and bladder emptied itself slowly and with difficulty. All these symptoms increased for 2 hours more, and then remained with some variations up to 11, when he went to bed, slept heavily, and woke in m. with mouth somewhat dry and clammy, and still some difficulty in evacuating bladder. The second took same doses, and had same symptoms, with also nausea and repeated vomiting. The third was as the second, but his symptoms lasted all next day; both found that a short walk improved all symptoms for the time. A fourth took 8 gr. at 11 a. m. About 11:30 began to feel highly pleasurable sensations; by 12 itching of whole surface, most intense at nose and inside thighs, increasing up to 2:30, after which it gradually subsided. From 12:30 much somnolency, increasing up to 5. Pulse went down (from 68) to 48; pupils were contracted. Other symptoms as in former provers. Next three experiments were with small repeated doses, – gr. 1/2 every 2 or 3 hours in two, gr. j every hours in a third. Same symptoms were produced. (Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., vii, 37.)
All this is in strange contrariety with H. C.Wood’s statement that “20 or 30 gr. have frequently been taken without effect, and even doses of 120 gr. are said to have been exhibited with no greater results.” (Narcotine is not mentioned by Harley.)
Papaverinum has been experimented with by Hormann (Wien. med. Wochenschr. for 1868), who took on 3 successive day doses of gr. 1 – 8 of the muriate. In 1 1/2 hours after 3rd dose, severe hiccough came on, and lasted for 6 m., followed by pain in epigastrium, and when this disappeared frontal headache came on. (See Allen’s Encyclopaedia, sub voce.)
Thebainum acts on animal like strychnia. Two gr. injected by Harley under the skin of a dog weighing 25 lb. killed it in 1/4 hours by arrest of the respiratory movements. “Rabuteau took 10 centigrs., with the production only of a feeling of tightness in the head.” (Wood).
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.