Caffeinum, an alkaloid obtained from coffee, C8H10N402.
Provings
1. C.G.LEHMANN took 10 gr. and felt nothing. The urine only contained more urea. He gave it to many of his pupils in doses of from 2 to 10 gr. The gave it to many of his pupils occurred the most violent excitation of vascular and nervous systems, palpitation, very rapid, irregular, often intermittent pulse, oppression of chest, headache, obscuration of senses, tinnitus aurium, vision of sparks, sleeplessness, erections, and even delirium. Five who had taken from 5 to 10 gr.were unfit for work next day.(BRILL, Das Kaaffein, 79.)
2. FRERICHS took 25 gr.at once. After 1/4 hour pulse was full and hard, rose from 70 to 80, head heavy and confused, roaring in ears, and slight vertigo, pulsation of temporal arteries very visible.[*Husemann, after 0.24 grm., experienced intense congestion of head and difficulty of breathing(LEWIN, op.cit.)*] Great restlessness and excitement, unable to continue one train of thought. After 1 hour vomiting with cessation of symptoms.(Handworterb der Physiologic, iii, 721.).
3. In J.LEHMANN’S experiments with coffee and caffeinum the urea was occasionally diminished in quantity; 8 gr. caused rapid pulse, strong heart’s action, trembling, constant urging to urinate with scanty discharge, excitement of imagination, confusion of thoughts, visions, a sort of intoxication, and, lastly, profound sleep. (BRILL, op. cit., 83.)
4. Dr.EUSTRATIADES found that caffein diminished the quantity of urea in the doses of 15 centigr.daily by 11 per cent.; in doses of 30 centigr. daily, by 28 per cent. He found that strong coffee(roasted) in infusion had the same effect. He also notes that caffeine is not diuretic, though it causes more frequent desire to micturate; that his pulse, ordinarily 7–75, fell (while taking 30 centigr. daily) to 58-65, and was more regular and tranquil; that little effect was produced on sleep, save for a night or two after commencing larger dose. The effects of coffee were very similar. (Etude sur les proprietes phys. de la Cafeine et du Cafe, Paris, 1870).
Poisonings
1. A woman took two powders of the citrate, each containing 0.24 grm. She was seized with remarkable restlessness and dizziness, and could not keep erect; violent praecordial anxiety with palpitation; abdominal pulsation; violent trembling of all extremities; grating of teeth; features expressive of utmost anxiety; feeling of constriction of neck and throat, recurring every 15 minutes; pules very rapid. This condition lasted 3 hour, and gradually disappeared. KELP, in Schmidt’s Jahrb., vol. 176, p.220.)
2. Man, aet.63, in good health, took by mistake on Feb.20th 1883, 3j of citrate. There followed immediately burning in throat and gullet, followed by giddiness faintness, nausea, numbness, and tremors of extremities; pain and tenderness of bowels and stomach; great thirst; dry tongue. At 4.45 he was violently sick and purged. Much urine was also passed. Sickness and vomiting recurred at 5.45. On leaving closet he could hardly walk and had to be assisted. At 6 he was collapsed; pulse hardly perceptible, irregular, 120; skin cold and clammy, but all senses perfectly intact, not even headache; sensibility of skin nowhere impaired, a symptom not presented throughout. [Antidotes were now given, including nitrite of amyl and nitroglycerine, and collapse gradually passed off. As it did so, lumbar pain and tenderness came on, and continued in some degree till 24th.](ROUTH, Lancet, April 21st, 1883.).
Experiments on animals.
1. AUBERT experimented principally on frogs and dogs. His experiments were made with the alkaloid obtained from yellow Java
coffee.
1 a. Nervous System.-The prominent effect of C.is an increased irritability of reflex nervous action and tetanus. The symptoms are somewhat similar to those of strychnia, i.e. sudden starting upon touching the animal, or after exposing it to the slightest concussion increased irritation producing tetanic spasms. The larger the dose of C.the longer do the latter last. That these reflex motions are produced through the excito-motor nerves(spinal cord) and not by acting directly on the contractility of the muscular fibres, was proven by artificial isolation of the nerves from the muscles of one leg(dividing the sciatic nerve), when no contractions took place in that limb; while, when said nerve was left intact, but dissected out from between the muscles and the latter constricted by tying a string around them (not including the nerve) even to the extent of compressing the bloodvessels, reflex contractions occurred. Besides the increased irritability of spinal nerves, it was found that the sympathetic nerve lost, to some extent, its activity, for all the smaller blood-vessels became relaxed, and passive congestion occurred, which produced upon muscles separated from spinal nerve influence at first slight contractions and subsequent relaxations.
Respiration.-The only but very interesting result of experiments in this direction was the elicitation of the fact that respiration was more or less suppressed during the tetanic spasms, but also that the spasms ceased when artificial respiration was resorted to.
1 c. Heart and Circulation.-In this direction the following results were obtained:(a) Increase of frequency of the beat of the heart, and therefore of the pulse; (b) the sphygmograph showed that the pulse wave was lower; (c) the pressure of the column of blood was diminished; (d) the cavities of the heart emptied themselves only partly;(e) chloral antidotes the symptoms of the heart.(Pflueger’s Archiv, v,589.)
2. From 4 to 7 gr.acted on rabbits. In the first hour the irritability was increased and went on increasing-shown by greater attention to Heart’s beats increased in frequency(from 160 to 240); this remained for hours or even days; respirations not increased by small doses, sank from 60 to 40-32 from large doses. Temperature slightly increased, pupils unaltered. Involuntary muscles increased in activity, passed dung and urine oftener, urine increased in quantity, The increased motility of voluntary muscles after large doses decreased. Death was preceded by tetanic convulsions.(KURZAK, Zeitsch.d.Ges.d.Aerzt., zu Wien, 1860, No.40.)
3. The following is a summary of results obtained by hypodermic injection of caffeine.
3 a. In frogs, after gr.1/128, very slight weakness of posterior extremities; after gr.1/32, considerable weakness of limbs, respiration impaired, reflex action diminished; after gr.1/16, almost complete paralysis and loss of reflex action, respiration stopped, prostration, cutaneous surface congested; after gr.1/10, complete prostration, reflex action lost, respiration stopped, under surface of skin, tongue and mouth congested, stasis of blood in capillaries. From gr.1/8 and 1/3 symptoms still more intense. Death followed doses from 1/12 upwards; post mortem, heart beat feebly, great congestion of viscera, when brain, cord, nerves or muscles were irritated muscular contractions followed. In frogs which had 1/10, on touching all columns of exposed cord during columns had no such effect. In two frogs which had gr.1/3 to 1 femoral artery was ligatured; but no difference was perceived between two limbs.
3 b. A rabbit had 4 doses of gr.j each. After Ist and 2nd, no effects; after 3rd, congestion of ears, cerebral excitement, contraction of pupil, staggering gait; from 4th, partial paralysis of limbs and diminished reflex action.
3 c. Another had 4 gr.at once. Respirations and pulsations, at first increased, then diminished; ears at first anaemic and cold, then congested and hot; breathing laboured; pupils contracted; paralysis of limbs; loss of reflex action; tetanic (isotonic)spasms. P.M.-Membranes of brain and internal viscera congested; substance of brain and cord healthy; galvanism of brain, cord, nerves or muscles produced muscular contractions.
3 d. Three cats had doses of 6-8 gr. Former produced irritation and cerebral excitement; congestion of tongue and mouth; staggering gait; tenesmus and mucous discharge from bowel; excessive salivation; subsequent depression. In 2nd (8 gr.) same, with prostration, loss of reflex action, tetanic spasms, and death. In 3rd no marked effect for about 1/2 hour, then death from sudden tetanic spasm. Same p.m.appearances as before.
3 e. A rabbit had 12 gr. Spinal cord being exposed during life, and posterior columns touched with needle, animal struggled and cried out; anterior columns touched, it struggled only. After injection, when posterior columns were touched, animal did not cry out, but struggled slightly; anterior columns touched, strong muscular contractions ensued. Symptoms as before. (HUGHES BENNETT, Antagonism of Medicines, 1873, p.73).
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.