26. a. A man, aet. 30, with a slight chronic eczematous eruption, was placed on a regulated diet and the urine carefully collected.
Before taking colchicum: October 30th..Urine 56 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1016. Uric acid in 24 hour 8.73 gr. October 31st… Urine 64 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1014 Uranic acid in 24 hours 7.9 gr. November 1st… Urine 84 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1012 Uric acid in 24 hours 8.09 gr. November 3rd.
Average = 68.5 8.24. When taking colchicum: November 4th..Urine 56 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1015. Uric acid in 24 hours 6:05 gr. November 5th…Urine 56 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1016 Uric acid in 24 hours 8.51 gr. November 6th..Urine 46 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1020 Uric acid in 24 hours 8:00 gr. November 7th…Urine 56 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1016 Uric acid in 24 hours 6.61 gr. November 9th… Urine 54 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1021 Uric acid in 24 hours 9.18 gr. Average = 55.6, 7.67.
26 b. Another man, aet. 19, with chronic elephantiasis of upper lip and pretty good general health, was treated in same manner. Before taking colchicum: January 13th, 1854, urine 55 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1017. Uranic acid in 24 hours 7.91 gr. January 14th 1854 urine 28 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1027 Uric acid in 24 hours 4.48 gr. January 15th 1854, urine 30 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1027 Uric acid in 24 hours 3.000 gr. Average =37.7 5.03 When taking colchicum (3ss ter die.):
January 16th..Urine 47 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1015. Uric acid in 24 hours. 1.34 gr. January 18th…Urine 23 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1024 Uric acid in 24 hours 7:55 gr. January 19th..Urine 24 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1025 Uric acid in 24 hours 7.24 gr. January 20th..Urine 13 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1031 uric acid in 24 hours 5:00 gr. January 22nd..Urine 19 fl. oz.; sp. gr. 1027 Uric acid in 24 hours 5.34 gr. Average = 25.2 5.29.
C. was taken ter die for 2 days; on occurrence of purging 1 dose omitted, 2 doses kept up free action of bowels. General results: (1) There is no evidence that C. produces any effects by causing increased elimination of uric acid, but if continued for a lengthened time it appears to exert a contrary effect. (2) It does not influence amount of urea or other solids of the urine. (3) It does not always act as a diuretic, but has a contrary effect when it produces a marked effect on the alimentary canal. (GARROD, On Gout. 3rd ed., pp. 324, 333.)
27. Experiments on a healthy man, aet. 28. Urine for 3 days previously was of following average character, viz.:- Quantity 1230 c. c., sp. gr. 1025.08, solids 63.12 grms. (inorganic matter 29.83, organic 33.29), strongly acid. Took 3iss official tinct. of C. 3 times in 24 hours for 3 days 1st day. – Urine: – Quantity 1595.7 c. c., sp. gr. 1024.37, soils 77.29 grms. (inorganic 36:50, organic 40.79), strongly acid. 2nd day. – Urine: – Quantity 1484.1 c. c., sp. gr. 1024.31, solids 75.22 grms. (inorganic 35.01, organic 40.21), strongly acid. 3rd day – Urine: – Quantity 1620 c. c., sp. gr. 1022.06, solids 79.33 grms. (inorganic 34:20, organic 45.13), strongly acid.
Average in health and under colchicum: –
Normal. – Quantity 1280.0, sp. gr. 1025.08, total solids 63.12 (inorganic, 29.83, organic 33.29).
Colchicum. – Quantity 1556.6, sp. gr. 1023.58, total solids 77.28 (inorganic 35.23, organic 42.04). (W. A. HAMMOND, M. D., Amer. journ. Medorrhinum Sciences, xxxvii, 277.)
28. R. H. -, aet. 18, student of medicine, suffering from slight sore-throat, took 50 dr. vin. colch. at 9 a. m. At 12.30, no effect; took 30 more. At 7.45 p.m.20 more. At 11:15, slight nausea. At 8:30 a. m. next day took 60 dr more. Breakfasted sparingly, appetite impaired. At 9:30 sudden copious stool, with considerable griping pain; 15 morning afterwards he experienced in large intestines feeling of great commotion, which was immediately followed by 6 very copious yellow watery stools. A feeling of weakness continued for 24 or 48 hours (LEWINS, Ed. Medorrhinum and Surg. journ., xlvii, 348.)
29. W. F. -, aet. 17, student of medicine, in perfect health, took 70 dr. of vinum at 7 a. m. and 30 more at 10:30. Slight nausea at 11:30. At 12:30 took 30 dr. more. Nausea increased. In 3 hours after he took 40 dr.more. Severe sickness occurred in 2 hours after this dose, followed by a copious stool. At 9 p. m. another stool. Slept well, but on waking at 7 a. m. felt sick and faint. Had yellow watery stools during day a little after 8 a. m. vomited more than a quart of thick whitish matter, had some desire for food but could not eat. At 11 a. m. vomited viscid greenish matter, and soon afterwards vomited again. At 3 p. m. rejected brandy and water which had been taken, and at 4 p. m. vomited again. Next morning felt sick and could not eat, sickness subsided during day. Urine of deeper colour than usual and deposited a sediment. (Ibid.)
30. J. H. -, aet.15, took 40 dr. of vinum at 9 a. m. and 30 more at 12 a. m. In 2 1/2 hour he felt squeamish. At 4 p. m. took 30 dr. more, and had more nausea in 1/4 hour. At 7 p. m. 30 dr. more were taken, soon followed by severe sickness. Vomited 3 times at 10 p. m., and soon after on taking food it was instantly rejected. Bowels were moved once. Slept will; slight nausea next morning. Quite well at dinner tie. (Ibid.).
31. F. L. -, aet.12, took 30 dr. of vinum at 9:30 a. m., 30 more at 5 p. m. At 8 p. m. felt sick and vomited copiously and easily. Then took an egg and slept well. At 6:45 a. m. next day had a copious stool, soon repeated, and before evening 9 watery stools occurred without pain. (Ibid.)
32. a. J. B. -, aet.17, in perfect health, took 40 dr. at 8 p. m., and 30 more at 8 a. m. next day. Slight nausea in forenoon. At 3 p. m. took 30 dr. more. Bowels moved at 6 p. m., slight vomiting during evening several times, and once he fainted after a copious stool 5 stools before bedtime; slept well; was well at noon next day.
32 b. Same 10 days afterwards took 70 dr. at 6 p. m., and became sick in night. At 1 a. m. very sick, vomited bile; much nausea, with occasional vomiting until 4 p. m. Upwards of a pint of bile was ejected between 1 and 9 a. m.; headache in course of day, ate little dinner, could taste tea at 7 p. m. Perfectly well next day. Pulse feeble during first 24 hours and below normal standard. It afterwards rose too 100, and there was feeling of debility. (Ibid.)
33. R. B. -, aet.10, took 20 dr. at 10 a. m., and at 4:30 15 more. Next morning 2 stools, no nausea. At 11:30 25 dr., and at 4:30 20 more were taken. An hour later bowels moved, and twice again between 6 and 7 o’clock, at which time he vomited. Nausea and vomiting, not violent, continued all evening, also twice in night (viscid bile), and had 3 more stools – in all 9 operations. Nausea continued 15 hours. Sleep pretty well, though sick and awake in night. Little desire for food until next day, and not inclined to get out of bed. Pulse during continuance of nausea was feeble and less frequent than natural. (Ibid.).
Poisonings.
I. A boy, aet. 6, after eating about 5 or 6 oz. of colch. seeds and capsules when playing in right wrist and throat. Then there came on a scarlet rash all over body, trembling of limbs that went on to an attack of violent convulsions about 8 hours after taking the drug. The convulsions lasted 1/2 hours and quiet sleep ensued; 3 hours later the convulsions were renewed in the same way, and ended in vomiting of 3 or 4 oz. of chewed, dirty green vegetable matter and 1 to 1 1/2 hours oz. green fluid. Next morning 15 hours after poisoning, he was very restless, complained of pains in forearms which were very sensitive to the slightest touch; skin leaden coloured, dry, hot; nose, cheeks, and soles cold; pupils dilated, consciousness oppressed; pulse not to be felt, several hours later thread-like, trembling; hardness of hearing, carphologia, unconscious urination paralysis of right leg and left arm, head fell backwards. An emetic brought away seeds and pods of colch. The 3rd and 4th day there were carphologia, grinding of teeth, unequal breathing, involuntary passage of stools and urine; but he heard better, the temperature of skin was more natural, and the skin a better colour; increased strength and diminished rapidity of pulse, pupils less dilated. On 5h and 6th days, left sclerotic slightly reddened; on cornea a sharply defined white spot, in anterior chamber some purulent fluid deposited, a capsular cataract commencing. Energetic treatment and tranquil sleep during night brought some improvement. On 7th and 8th day the purulent effusion in anterior chamber was diminished, the sclerotic less inflamed, the spot on cornea gone. But the left elbow and knee-joint were swollen, hot, painful, the right side half paralysed and nearly insensible, hearing again gone, grinding of teeth, tongue covered with thick, brown, dirty coating; thirst increased. After a long sleep in the night of the 9th there was a recurrence of the gastric symptoms, the fever, arthritis, and sclerotitis. But the right side was completely paralysed and its sensibility very small, only the toes were drawn inwards towards soles when touched ever so slightly; spinal paralysis, the head fell backwards when the child was raised, the mouth was drawn wide open. Pulse 190. The cornea appeared very convex and pointed, as if by the enlarged opaque lens being pushed forward towards iris and pupil. On 10th days, morning and noon, there occurred convulsions of left side and facial muscles for 15 to 20 morning; grinding of teeth lasted all days with short intervals; both eyes were always directed towards the sun’s light, temperature of skin diminished, pulse 180. The swelling of elbow and knee gone, the eye seemed to be better. Same report for 11th days. On 12th days the hearing and sight improved, he could support his head and muttered some incomprehensible sounds. L. thumb turned inwards, urinary secretion much increased. Pulse from 185 to 190. L. eye had almost regained its normal state, only there was dimness of pupil. On shutting and quickly opening lids a yellowish flocculent membrane continually flickered round the edge of the pupil, which was of normal size, but dilated sluggishly and contracted quickly. On 13th could drink water but could eat nothing but sugar. Teeth and tongue again covered with brown sores, sclerotic again red. The membrane in the left eye had fixed itself immovably in anterior chamber; it appeared about 2”’ long and 1/2”’ wide. In posterior chamber the lens was perceived opaque but smaller than before, the brown iris dim and obliterated, the pupils extremely sensitive to light; this symptoms declined the following day. The membrane had fallen to the bottom of the anterior chamber. The lens had a greenish hue. The 15th days the boy ate some cake and drank 2 cups of coffee which caused vomiting. But the grinding of teeth which had diminished again returned. The sclerotic was less red, the membrane absorbed, he iris had recovered its dark brown colour, its excessive sensitiveness was gone. The lens had the colour of verdigris. Pulse small, hard, 180 to 185. Much diabetic (?) urine was passed every 1/4 hour. The next 9 days the state remained unaltered, but he could take nothing but a few spoonfuls of coffee; milk was vomited. He grew extremely thin. On the 25th days the green coloured lens seemed to have receded more into the depths of the chamber. 26th days, there was only some cloudiness towards inner angle, which was gone by the 28th. On 29th grinding of teeth returned wit convulsions of left side and of both eyes. Tongue white, skin to and dry, right arm lay motionless on chest, the thumb turned in, the other fingers tightly closed over it. Consciousness gone. The 30th day he drank a glass of wine sweetened with sugar and some coffee without vomiting. On 32nd days vomited everything he tools arms and legs and fingers spasmodically contracted. L. hand trembled. Eyes rolled convulsively. Abdomen felt doughy, not distend, but painful on slight pressure. L. sclerotic again red, and in bottom of posterior chamber a slight cloudiness which seemed to belong to vitreous; left pupil contracted, right dilated, both lids wide open. Pulse thready, 190 to 195, strong palpitation of heart. Till the 44th day the breathing was irregular, the convulsions more frequent, spreading over cervical and facial muscles; lower jaw firmly pressed against upper. Foam at mouth. These symptoms went off during next morning, but the right eye turned incessantly in a semicircle, while the left eye was always slight convulsive movements directed towards inner canthus. Both were little sensitive to light, left iris again discolored, right pupil moderately dilated, left extremely contracted, the white spot again in the cornea, but the inflammatory redness of sclerotic gone. Nostrils dry and blackish. Cheeks and chin alternately leaden coloured and bright red; face covered with sweat, breathing easy and uniform skin very dry, abdomen doughy; right arm could not be extended, left arm could not be flexed, both feet drawn up, the soles in form of semicircle, the toes spasmodically drawn towards soles. The body extremely emaciated, pulse and heart’s beats scarcely to be felt; each day the same quantity of diabetic urine passed, and the bowels were moved. The spot on cornea gone on 49th days. On 50th days the most violent convulsions of all parts of the body, except the paralysed right side, came on. The spine was much affected. The head was bent backwards, the spine forwards, the abdominal muscles were drawn up, the abdominal muscles were drawn up, the abdominal integuments drawn tightly against lumbar vertebrae. At 3 p. m. death ensued. (SCHILLING, Heidelberg Medorrhinum Ann., 1840, vi, 591.)
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.