27. a. Bocler says that those who handle C. for a long time become affected with vomiting; and Sachse saw this result induced by laying it upon stomach.
27 b. Michaelis states that extr., laid upon bare skin of epigastrium, produced diarrhoea. Christen noticed frequently increased evacuation of faeces and urine from external abdominal application; and Neumann saw from friction with tincture and castor oil (1 – 4) violent colic and frothy diarrhoea with blood. (Oest. Zeitschr., left).
Poisonings
1. A woman of 40 was advised, for rheumatic pains in shoulder and thigh, to boil 1/2 ib. of colocynth in red wine, and drink the strained liquor before going to bed. Fortunately she divided the portion into two parts, for she had hardly swallowed the first half before she was seized with frightful pains in region of stomach, great anguish, vertigo, fainting fits, and spasms. Frequent vomiting set in, but without relief; then stools, first fluid and feculent, later almost of pure blood, with frightful tenesmus, and passage of pieces of intestinal mucous membrane 2-3 in. square. Pain then became concentrated in stomach and lower end of rectum; abdomen was collapsed; finally tenesmus ceased, and she gradually fell asleep. Oily and mucilaginous drinks, with opium, were administered, and patient gradually recovered, but was compelled to keep her bed a long time from weakness and dyspepsia. (SCHEELE, cited in Oest. Zeitschr.;)
2. A man of 55 took for a swelling of knee a small quantity of tinct. He was shortly afterwards seized with nausea and vomiting with feeling of heat and burning in epigastrium. Delighted with thus result, he took a second and third dose to increase the effect. Copious, exceedingly frequent stools now came on, and such intolerable pain in whole extent of abdomen, and so violent a colic, that he sprang out of bed and rolled on the floor. Convulsions of the strongest kind soon set in, and patient died ere night. P. M. – Stomach and duodenum externally purple, jejunum and ileum rose coloured; mucous membrane of former parts was avidly reddened, full of erosions, loosened, and very easily detached. Similar abnormal appearances were found in lower portion of small intestine, but less decided; and large intestine was but little coloured externally or internally. Whole canal was empty. (DUVERGIE and RATIER, in Ibid.).
3. A pregnant woman, who took a teaspoonful of tinct., was seized with a dysenteric flux, burning pain in loins, swelling of vulva, and sense of bearing down and heat in vagina. (HECHENBERGER, op.cit.)
4. A men, aet. 28, who suffered from bleeding piles and dyspeptic troubles, drank two glasses of a decoction, and experienced colic, frequent stools, and – some hour later-great heat in bowels, dryness of pharynx and unquenchable thirst. Dr. Carron found patient with small accelerated pulse, tongue red, abdomen tense and very sensitive to touch, umbilical region very painful bowels constipated. In spite of soothing measures, abdomen was on succeeding day still more painful and tympanitic. In evening there was retention of urine, retraction of testicles, and priapism. On 3rd day (after nitre) retention of urine relieved, but other symptoms continued; pulse was small and contracted, and hiccup, coldness of extremities, and clammy sweat on head and chest came on. In evening pains ceased; abdomen sank in, and there was manifest fluctuation. Patient died in night. P. M. – Intestines red, with black spots; for most part glued together with lymph; a whitish fluid had been effused into abdomen, filled with a quantity of white flocks; ulceration here and there in mucous coat of stomach; traces of inflammation in liver, kidneys, and bladder. (ORFILA, Toxic., sub voce.).
Experiments on animals.
1. The oesophagus of a medium sized dog was tied, after 12 grm. of powder had been administered. He soon after efforts to vomit; in 11 hours his gait became unsteady, and he fell as if giddy. Two hours later he gave hardly any sign of life, and allowed himself to be shoved about like a lifeless mass. Death occurred 13 hours after administration. P. M.- Mucous membrane of stomach at cardiac end dark red, with blackish streaks, rest to beginning of colon bright red; large intestines little changed, save rectum, whose lining was highly inflamed and fiery red; lungs and cerebral vessels filled with blood. (ORFILA, op. cit.)
2. An infusion of 3ij in wine was introduced into stomach of similar dog, and oesophagus tied. He whined during day, became weak, had 2 copious stools, and died in 22 hours. Mucous membrane of stomach, duodenum and jejunum reddened throughout, with dark- red spots at places; ileum, caecum, and commencement of colon almost normal; in lower colon, and in rectum, blackish raised streaks on fiery red ground. (Ibid.)
3. A wound was made in thigh of a dog, 3 ij of finally powdered C. inserted, and the lips brought together. The animal did not seem troubled the day after not whine, and went about as usual; but he died during following night. Mucous membrane of rectum was very much altered; nearly whole surface was covered with blood-red spots; rest of canal unaltered. (Ibid.)
4. A strong white rabbit, 10 weeks old, was poisoned gradually during 7 days with 10 -30 dr. doses of tinct. No symptoms save increasing dulness and weakness P. M. – 20 hours after death. – Animal emaciated; skin easily separated, and on hind legs tender, and coming off only piecemeal; areolar tissue of latter infiltrated with a gelatinous mass. Muscles pale and flaccid. Mucous coat of stomach pale, with dendritic injection of vessels, easily torn; mesenteric vessels injected with bright red blood throughout whole course of intestine. Liver much enlarged; upper surface marbled with dark-and pale-red; section there presenting granulated appearance throughout, in other places only in spots; whole five lobe exhibiting ties of size of millet seeds, filled with a purulent-looking fluid; gall-bladder distended with similar fluid. (Oest. Zeitschr., left)
5. Another rabbit had taken daily for 8 days 5 gr. of the 1x trit. without manifesting any particular symptoms. He then took at 8 a. m., 40 dr. of tinct. He became weak 1/2 hours after dose, and remained motionless, with eyes fixed and staring all day. Some diarrhoea occurred at noon, and he died at 7 p. m. P. M., 12 hours after death. – Emaciation; veins of thighs and cerebral vessels filled with dark blood, right heart the same, left empty. Stomach marked with a few bright red injected vessels; general mucous coat pale, easily torn. Adhesions in places between large and small intestines; whole mass, as well as entire mesentery, marked with bright red injected vessels, which surrounded bowels, and towards lower portion by one straight vessel; inner surfaces red only at extremity. Liver of normal size, colour, and consistence; scantily set with whitish, millet-seed points, permitting purulent moisture to escape on being opened; gall- bladder distended with thin brownish bile. (Ibid.)
6. Rohrig [as also Rutherford, EDS.] from his experiments on fasting animals, is led to place C. high among cholagogue. It makes the bile watery, but also increases the solid constituents. It powerfully stimulates the intestinal glands. (RINGER, op. 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.