29. When separating an acid from the croton, he was exposed to the vapour it emitted. Next morning face, lips, eyelids were swollen, red, inflamed; round eyes a broad ring of small vesicles, followed by weakness and heaviness in upper and lower extremities, burning in throat and bowels, then great drowsiness and weariness (BRANDES, Hufel. Journ, lvii, 1, 120.)
30. A chemist who had rubbed up some seeds in mortar, and whose hands smeared with the oil, had touched his face, was next day affected with swelling and redness hands and face which lasted 3 days. (Rust’s Mag., xix, 526).
31. Two to four dr. rubbed into skin cause erythema, studded, with small, round or cylindrical pustules, which dry up and fall off in from 12 to 24 hours. Rubbed on trochanter it caused redness and pustules on scrotum, attended with pain and fever. In one case the rubbing in of 3 dr. on throat caused erysipelas bullosum on neck, nape, and chest, with swelling of eyelids, nose, and mouth. Desquamation occurred in 4 days (ROMBERG, Casper’s Wochensch., 1835, No. 15, p. 225).
32. After 2 or 3 rubbing in of the oil, the whole part becomes erythematous and burning hot; small vesicles like malaria also appear, which seem to contain no serum. Before the eruption appears, the patient complains of burning pain in skin, which subsides after their appearance. The eruption and redness of skin go off in 2 day. (OTTO, Ibid., 269).
33. After rubbing in ss oil in right groin, not only the whole scrotum but the face also was covered with closely-set pustules. When seen the pustules on one side of the scrotum had burst and formed a suppurating ulcer. IN the face, which was unrecognizable, the pustules dried and rubbed off. The eruption consisted of vesicles which became filled with pus, and had a depression on their apex. (MEINEL, Deutsche Klinik, 1851, no.41, p.437.)
34. HENCKE rubbed 2 dr. of the oil in evening on umbilical region. After 1/2 hour rumbling and loud gurgling in bowels. After 6 hours disturbed in sleep by flatulent colic, the pains lasted about 1/2 hours, and went off gradually with noisy discharge of flatus. After 9 hour ordinary stool. Two day later repeated the rubbing in of the oil in evening. At night violent colicky pains, and discharge of noisy fetid flatus. Next day, in afternoon, while walking, very tiresome gnawing itching in scrotum. 6 p. m. flatulence and soon afterwards hurried call to stool, which came out quickly with flatus, motion thin and scanty. 8 p. m., immediately after supper colicky pains with rumbling bowels, and feeling as in diarrhoea, lasting 1/2 hour and going off in discharge of flatus. Next day sleep disturbed by the itching on scrotum; rubbing the part allayed the itching, but caused erections. The usual stool did not occur, but in evening there was an insufficient slowly discharged soft stool. The itching in scrotum lasted all day, and was aggravated by walking. No eruption to be seen. 9 p. m., rubbed in 3 dr. Next day sleep at night disturbed by the itching of scrotum. M., at usual time, a liquid stool with flatus. When the oil had been rubbed on abdomen, there appeared on eruption of small millet-sized papules which itched and gnawed, and when touched caused sore pain. The eruption disappeared in 5 days, the itching in scrotum in 2 days. ( Loc. cit.
Poisonings
1. JANET W.-, aet.19, having tubercular consolidation of apex of left lung, took by mistake teaspoonful of liniment composed of equal part of croton and olive oil. In 1/2 hour she complained, of intense burning in throat and all down gullet; no pain in stomach, and pulse and temp. unaltered. She was made to drink large quantities of warm water, and vomiting soon occurred. An emetic of sulphate of zinc caused vomiting to be very severe and continuous; the ejecta contained bile and the remains of a scanty meal, and they tasted strongly of croton oil. After vomiting has lasted 15 morning she complained of violent pain in stomach, not increased by pressure. After an enema of starch and opium vomiting and pain in stomach abated, but pain became very severe in lower part of bowels. Next today all symptoms had abated, and bowels, which had been costive, again became so. ( J. BRIDON, M. D., Ed. Medorrhinum Journ, vii, 135.
2. A young Mohammedan took an overdose of croton oil, which occasioned hypercatharsis. Evacuations after a time consisted only of mucus and serum, pulse was scarcely perceptible, extremities cold, and features contracted. When first seen I thought he was suffering from cholera. [* Mr.C.H.Bell says that he has seen a patient attacked with cramps like those of cholera under the action of a medicinal dose of croton tiglium. (Brit.MedorrhinumJourn., 1854, p.393.)(CHRISTIE, On Cholera, pp. 14, 15).
3. Man, aet. 31, having been occupied about 8 hours in emptying packages of croton seeds, by which he was exposed to their dust, was brought into St. Thomas’ Hospital with symptoms of poisoning. The first ill effects observed were loss of appetite, then burning sensation in nose and mouth, tightness at chest, and copious lachrymation, followed by epigastric pain. Feeling himself getting worse he left the warehouse, but became very giddy, and fell down insensible. An emetic was administered, stimulants exhibited, and he was wrapped in warm blankets. When he became sensible he complained that his mouth was parched and his throat swelling. On admission to hospital he appeared in a state of collapse, complaining of burning pain at stomach, in throat, and in head. Epigastrium felt hot and tense, pupils were dilated, breathing short and hurried, countenance distressed, pulse 85, surface cold. He stated that his tongue feel too large for his mouth, and appeared to be without feeling; he had bitten it two or three times to ascertain if there was any sensation in it. On examination, however, no change could be observed in size or appearance of tongue or parts about mouth. Hot brandy and water were given to him, and he was put into the hot bath with evident relief. He continued in hospital several day, during which time he continued to improve, but still complained of epigastric pain. It deserves notice that his bowels were not acted on, and on the day following his admission several doses of castor oil were given to him. (PEREIRA, op. cit., sub voce.)
4. A young man. aet.25, affected with severe typhoid fever, swallowed by mistake 3iss of croton oil. At end of 3/4 hours skin as cold and covered with cold sweat, pulse and action of heart scarcely perceptible, respiration difficult; points of toes and fingers, and parts around eyes nd lips blue, as in malignant cholera; abdomen sensitive of touch; but no vomiting. In 1 1/2 hours there were excessive and involuntary alvine evacuations, sense of burning in oesophagus, acute sensibility of abdomen, skin colder, respiration and circulation difficult; the cyanosis extended over whole body; skin became insensible; and death occurred, with some of the symptoms of asphyxia, 4 hours, after poison was swallowed. NO lesion was found in gastric membrane; and intestines presented only those of typhoid fever. (Ibid.)
5. A. C. -, aet.4, took 3j by mistake just after a meal. He complained almost immediately of pain in throat; in 5 morning severe vomiting came on, and in 3 morning more violent purging, with great pain in bowels. Thirst was intense, and he drank large quantities of water. After 3/4 hours. Dr. Keith found patient almost completely exhausted, countenance pale and rather shrunk, pulse small and rapid, extremities rather cold; vomiting had for some morning ceased, but purging still continued, though not so severely, passage being without pain and apparently involuntary; no complaint made on compression of abdomen; faeces had numerous streaks of a white slimy, emulsion-like substance, mixed with large quantities of clear glairy fluid, which kind of matter was also vomited; thrust continued unabated. At 4:30 he was found in a very restless state, tossing convulsively about, as if in pain; feet cold, pulse 130. At 5:30 pulse had risen to 150, and was very weak; feet and legs cold; he generally lay quietly on belly,
but occasionally tossed about. At 5:45 pulse was so quick and weak it could not be counted; he lay in a lethargic state, sometimes drawing himself up as if in pain; disinclined to speak, and uttering no complaints. At 6:30 pulse was stronger but still very rapid, extremities warmer, vomiting had ceased, and he seemed more lively. At 8:15 he was found hot and perspiring, with pulse as high as 190. At 9:30 pulse was down to 120 and stronger; otherwise better. When seen next morning he was found to have had a good night’s east; pulse 116 and of moderate strength; countenance pale, though natural; tongue red, smooth, glistening, and dry in centre; throat red and sore, and voice husky. Next day almost well (Edin. Monthly Journ. of Medorrhinum Science, 1843.).
Experiments on animals
1. a. The experiments of Landsberg and others upon horses show that these animals are but slowly affected by croton seeds, although the symptoms ultimately developed are severe and even fatal. The most striking of them are these: loss of appetite, frequency of pulse, debility, signs of abdominal pain, foaming or unusual dryness of mouth, grinding of teeth, short, quick, and laborious breathing, flatulent distension of abdomen, diarrhoea, tenesmus, followed by paralysis of rectum, cold sweating, and death. The gastro-intestinal mucous membrane is found injected and softened, and the bowels are filled with a bloody liquid. In these experiments 10-40 seeds were given but latter quantity only was fatal.
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.