4. A man (no description given) took, July 6th, 9 a. m., 1/2 gr. 2x trit. Pulse, which was ordinarily 60 when seated, rose in 3 morning to 64. The pulse-beats were unequal in force; heart’s beats unaltered. Noon, feeling in forehead and upper part of nose as if coryza were coming on. – 8th. The pulse, which was 60 at 9 a. m., rises to 62 5 morning after 1 gr. 2x trit, and remains at that till noon. – 10th. 1 1/2 gr. causes an increase of 3 to 4 beats in pulse. After all 3 doses has for a whole day pressure in supra – orbital region towards frontal sinus and when walking a feeling as if the ground gave way under his feet. (BAHR, op. cit., 197). 5. STADION, after a series of observations to determine the effects of a uniformly weighed quantity of milk, eggs, bread and butter on his urine, commenced experiments wit day, following the same diet. He commenced by taking 2 mlgram. Next day dose was increased to 3, and so on to 18th day, increasing dose for 18 day daily by 1 mlgrm. On 1st day he experienced dull indistinct transient cutting pain in cardiac region and in left hip-joint. By 6th day nausea was added; up to 12th nausea, anorexia, and muscular debility steadily increased; he felt severe articular pains like rheumatism, and finally coryza. From 14th rapidly increasing emaciation dirty grayish colour of ace and suffering features. On 15th flickering before eyes came on, and on 18th vertigo, headache, and extreme muscular debility – this debility attended by severe pains in joints. Respiration unchanged. Pulse during first 8 day showed constant increase in frequency by several beats; from 9th day constant decided decrease in frequency by 6 to 7 beats; at same time pulse was very excitable, so that least motion increased in an extraordinary way its frequency from 12 to 20 beats. S – notes that digitaline produces violent catarrhal affection of nose, but affects intestinal canal less than digitalis. Sexual power diminished or quite abolished, temporarily. He found diminution of water, urea, chloride of sodium, phosphates, and sulphates of urine. Amount of urine acid increased, sp. gr. falls, degree of acidity remains unchanged. He considers the most important action of digitaline to be its power to cause rapid wasting of the body, and depression of the exchange of material. (NOTHNAGEL and ROSSBACH, op. cit.)
6. Dr. LAUDER BRUNTON’s very accurate experiments on himself with digitaline, continued through several months, are given in his work in fragments, so that it is difficult to present them as a continuous report. The following, however, fairly represent his results.
6 a. March 5th, 1865. – ” After taking 12 mlgrm. of Morson’s digitaline, I experienced a remarkable sleepiness at night, which continued till 12th, when symptoms of abdominal irritation began to manifest themselves, and these increased till vomiting occurred. On 14th I felt great languor and prostration, and either on this day or at least while languor continued mental faculties seemed enfeebled; while reading for an examination eye glanced over words, but mind refused to receive or retain their import. The derangement of sight which I noticed was of two kinds: 1st, a general mistiness of objects, such as is seen before fainting; and, 2nd, a large bright spot advancing before me, and sometimes resembling a ring showing prismatic colours faintly, and similar in character to, though less distinct than, that seen round a light when digitaline has been introduced into the eye.[*When digitaline is introduced into the eye it causes smarting and profuse lachrymation, which passes off in a short time, and nothing more is felt except perhaps an occasional rough feeling of the conjunctiva till 4 or 5 hour, after, when on looking at a light you see it surrounded by a halo presenting the prismatic colours, and not quite close round the light but with a dark space between. This halo increases in diameter the farther you move from the light, and becomes smaller and narrower as you approach. I have noticed an appearance exactly similar when light cirrhi were crossing the moon. I did not notice any particular difference in the pupil, and the appearance is not due to its dilatation, for I found it quite distinct on looking through a pin-hole in a card*]. I found that for some days before vomiting came on, clear drops of water were always gathering at my nose. 17th. – Took 30 mlgrm. at two different times. At 4 a. m. I awoke, and vomited at intervals for about 1/2 hours; vomited matter yellow and liquid, somewhat like yolk of egg; vomiting violent and painful. Vomited again on rising at 9 a. m.; again at 9:30. frequent epigastric uneasiness and pain. In forenoon my sight occasionally not quite clear (just as one sees when about to faint, but some what slighter), and a large bright spot occasionally seen, such as is seen after looking at the sun, and then looking any at a dark object. Languor and discomfort all day. Occasional nausea. No more vomiting. Pain in chest on drawing breath, from soreness of diaphragm from vomiting. Bowels open in morning; stool copious, quite loose; in every very scanty. A good deal of flatus. 18th. – appetite improved, though not very good. Sight somewhat dim, especially after rising up or walking, a nd bright spots occasionally seen, chiefly after rising or walking. Bowels open. 19th. – Appetite better to-day. Sight dim, and I see a large bright pot, especially after exertion. This not so bad in afternoon. Slight pain in epigastrium occasionally, lasting some time when it occurs. After dinner constant pain in left side, apparently in descending colon. Much flatus at night. Bowels open once; stool copious, somewhat soft. 20th. Sight clear. After looking at a bright sky and on looking away I see a spot as if I had been looking at the sun. appetite much better to -day. Pain in left side still there on rising, and continued for some hours. Bowels open once, stool extremely scanty. Pain in side again to-night. A light threatening of headache before going to bed. 21st. – Appetite good. Still occasionally see a bright spot like a large bright soap-bubble, or like the halo that is seen round a light when digitaline is put into the eye (without the central light, which is the cause of the halo in the latter case). It seems to come more after exertion, or after long writing, as in taking notes. I am not sure whether it is the attention, or looking at the white paper, or the stooping, that causes it. Bowels open once, stool scanty; partly from large, partly from small intestines. 22nd – Still see a bright spot occasionally. Bowels open once, stool copious well formed. ”
6 b. Second set of experiments commence December 13th, 1865, and extend to March 25th, 1866. They are printed very accurately in a tabular form, so as to show the effects, especially on the urine; a record is also given of the pulse. Remarking on the pulse, he says: – “I have occasionally fond my pulse increased (in frequency) after taking digitaline, but sometimes not. ” He places little value on this, and adds – “I have found that my pulse was sometimes quicker, sometimes slower, while I took small doses of digitaline; but that under larger doses there was marked lowering of the pulsations. ” Again, remarking on the urine, he says: – “In my own case I found that with small doses the urine varied just as my pulse had done, begin generally increased to a slight extent while I took the digitaline, but sometimes not; while with large doses the diuretic effect was marked. The urinary constituents also vary considerably with small doses; but when dose was large, sp. gr. was diminished, urea increased, and phosphoric acid and chlorine diminished. ” (op. cit., 1868.)
7. LEMBKE, August 17th, 1859, 9:30 a. m. – Took 1/50 gr. He experienced drawing pain in left wrist an fingers, often severe; in left foot similar pain as if numb, especially when at rest; same drawing pain in toes of left foot, relieved by walking; soon a similar pain in fingers. Sharp pain in right knee. Behind upper cartilages of right ribs cutting pain affecting breathing; some hours after similar pain in left ribs. Confusion in occiput; heat over whole body, especially back; pulse normal, quickened easily by walking. 21st. – Took same dose, with return of same symptoms, drawing pains extending to occiput and vertex. 23rd. – Took same, and experienced similar pains. Had also quickened pulse, heat of skin, muscae volitantes, circles floating before the eyes, pupils contracted. The pains shift their position, and are worse when at rest than in motion. September 7th. – Took 1/45 gr. Similar pains, only more severe and lasting loner; heavy headache, and constant jerking of upper lip. On 8th, he felt on waking great vertigo, objects seem to turn horizontally, lessened on closing eyes, increased by stooping or movement; nausea, with coldness down back, cold hands, yawning, occasional short cough. These symptoms continued for an hours, when violent vomiting of whitish sour mucus, with much retching, occurred, partially relieving head. Vertigo continued, with great sensitiveness of eyes to light 2nd nose to smell; again vomiting; still great weight in head, confusion, coldness; nausea abated in 4 hours., so that food could be taken, but headache continued severe all next day. (N. Zeit. fur hom. Kl., iv, 177.) 8. Dr KOPFE took at 10 a. m., 2 mlgr. of digitoxin, the crystallized digitaline of Nativelle.[*This is not quite correct, in the light of recent research; but it is equally clear that three of the alkaloids of digitalis-those called by Schmiedeberg “digitalin,” “digitalein,” and “digitoxin”–are practically identical in action.–EDS*]. After an hour it caused sensation of faintness, nausea, discomfort, and slight vertigo. Pulse remained as usual 80 – 84, and was regular. “Notwithstanding the unpleasant sensations I continued my work in the laboratory till 1, after which I took a walk instead of going to dinner, for I had an aversion to every kind of food. The sensation of nausea gradually occurred to such a degree that I was forced to make an effort to reach the house in order to avoid vomiting in the street; the decided sensation of weakness and loss of power rapidly increased, and forced me to take a carriage in order to gain my residence, some distance away. Having reached the house I immediately went to bed. Pulse at this time (2 p. m.) was 58, and intermitted once in 30 – 50 beats; another respects it was regular. After an hour passed in bed, with constantly increasing discomfort, I vomited a large quantity of dark greenish masse of mucus. Immediately after I experienced decided relief, which, however, lasted only 1/4 hour, and gave place to the most excessive sensation of nausea. Pulse at this time was very intermittent, and only 40; an intermission occurred after very 2 or rarely 3 beats. About 5:15 there were several very violent attacks of vomiting, with much distressing retching, great paleness, and collapsed appearance of the face. About 6 the pulse showed a frequency of 40 to 42, and a tracing in marked contrast to the normal. In the latter, which shows the usual tricotic pulse, the second elevation is unusually great, and exceeds more than double the height of the first. The digitoxin curve shows an intermission after every two beats; and every second elevation of a couple is noticeably smaller than the first, and makes a gradation to the following intermission. Pulse continued of same frequency and of same character into the night. The beat was felt by me in the chest, so that I could readily count it. Every intermission was recognised by the sensation of oppression and anxiety in the chest which it caused. With these symptoms the prostration and loss of power had so far progressed towards evening that I was not able to leave the bed without the support of another person. With these symptoms remarkable weakness of sight developed, so that the features of my friends seemed to swim and become indistinct, and I could only recognise them by their voices. All the objects in the room seemed to run together without any outlines that I could only distinguish some very dark, or bright, or large, or small images in the field of vision. Therewith all objects, especially all bright tones, seemed in a slightly yellow light. Above all, the constant and excessive nausea made my condition exceedingly distressing this continued the whole n. with equal intensity, and allowed me not a movement’s rest. By morning there had been four attacks of vomiting, about 11, 1, 5, and 8, associated with persistent efforts to vomit and evacuation of mucus coloured with bile. Immediately after an attack of vomiting there was always relative relief for a short time. The same condition continued the whole of next day. The pulse, whose every beat I was still able to feel and count in my thorax, and whose every intermission I was conscious of, from the sanction of uneasiness and a kind of slight praecordial anxiety which it caused, was very easily excited by the slightest excitement or physical exertion. During complete physical and mental rest it was 54, and intermitted every few beats. Second night was very restless, with pail sleep, which was interrupted 4 times in one head. by confused anxious dreams and frightful fantasies. The 3rd day, which I still passed in bed, was much more tolerable than the preceding, since the distressing nausea had moderated and I was able to drink a little water. The weakness of vision, however, still continued, and the yellow vision was in nowise diminished. Pulse continued through whole day about 60, still very irregular, and intermitted every 40 to 50 beats. On the 4th day pulse had regained its rhythm, was weak and soft, and very seldom intermitted. After a sound sleep that night I began, on the 5th days, to take short walks leaning on the arm of another. My power of vision had not yet returned, and all objects seemed in a yellow light. The symptoms gradually disappeared during the three succeeding day. ” (Arch. fir Exp. Path, und Pharm., iii, 275.)
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.