9. SCHROFF made numerous experiments with day and digitalin. In all preparation taste was intensely bitter, most so in alcoholic extract, so that it caused nausea and shuddering. Larger doses always caused nausea, and largest doses violent vomiting When taken for a long time it caused lasting indigestion, pains in stomach, frequent eructations, anorexia, white furred tongue. Large doses caused dryness of fauces, rumbling in bowels, colic, and sometimes diarrhoea. Diminished activity of heart, usually after several hours, attained its maximum after 12-16 hours, rarely preceded by increased frequency of heart’s beats and pulse. The diminution of the pulse was always proportionate to the size of the dose. In one person who took 0.2 gram. of alcoholic extract of seeds there was great dilatation of pupils, confusion of head, drowsiness, retardation of pulse after 2 hours by 20 beats, and after 2 hours sleep the retardation amounted to 30 beats; he woke with violent pains in head and face, great heat of head, rigor over the rest of body, great prostration, weakness, and drowsiness. a second prover woke after 2 hours from a dream, put his hand involuntarily to this cardiac region, as he felt as if the heart and arteries would burst. Hi pulse was only 38. In large doses the pulse was small, weak, intermittent, always irregular, sometimes full and apparently strong. Temperature of skin lowered, only forehead felt hot, alternations of rigor and heat. Urine never increased, in some case diminished, though there was always urging to urinate. Large doses caused prostration, weariness, weakness, and drowsiness; but sleep in first night was often disturbed and restless; the following nights it was very profound. Confusion of head occurred after small doses, larger doses caused headache and feeling of weight, as though there was no room for bones in skull, feeling of pressure on eyelids, in eyeball, and above eye, vertigo, noise in ears, indistinct vision with very dilated pupils, inability to fix attention, increased irritability, sometimes dejection, sometimes hilariousness. ( Pharmacology, 601).[*This should properly have come in under Digitalis.–EDs.*].
Poisonings.
I. A married lady, aet. 34, fair complexion, nervous temperament, had been ordered 2 or 3 granules of Homolle’s digitaline (1 mlgrm. each). for palpitation and other hysterical symptoms. On April 25th, about 3 p. m., she took 57 granules. She felt no inconvenience till 6, when at dinner she had giddiness and desire to vomit, and vomited several times. A medical friend prescribed a mixture of tartar emetic and sulphate of soda, of which she only took 2 spoonfuls. At 8 p. m. face was dusky, pupils dilated, extremities cold; pulse 48, weak and irregular; great praecordial oppression and increasing gastric pain; breathing slow, inspiration deep and prolonged. Retching continued at every hour during night; no sleep; and temperature only sustained by stimulants, hot baths, etc. Next morning very weak; pulse 44, feeble and intermittent; sighing respiration; face almost livid; pupils dilated; mind clear. No action of bowels; urine abundant; great irritability of stomach; great praecordial oppression, as though heavy stone lay on chest. At noon, symptoms same, save less vomiting; pulse 42, intermittent. Besides other stimulants, 2 gr. of musk were now given every hours. At midnight pulse rose to 60, though still intermitting once in every 4 beats; but warmth had returned, and improvement now steadily continued. ( Lancet, 1880, i, 166.)
2. ROUSS DE CORBENY, aet. 72, complained of stitch in side and oedema of lower limbs. Pulse 68 – 70. He was treated with granules of digitaline. On June 5th, at 6 a. m., he took a strong dose of granules. At 10 a. m., beginning of headache and sickness. At 10:30, however, he took another dose of about 35 granules. At 5 p. m. he felt for 1/2 or 3/4 hour difficulty of seeing, rushed of blood – as he says. Praecordial anxiety extreme; he says continually his last hour has come. Intelligence clear. On coming to him at 6 p. m., I find the above symptoms more marked, and further note: tongue rather contracted than large, with slight yellow coating on sides, dryness and redness at point. No thirst; refusal of drinks, which bring on frequent sickness, distressing by reason of violent straining. Pain in right epigastric region; abdomen attracted; urine scanty, of a red-brown colour, with much brick-dust deposit; a little greater quickness in breathing. limbs cool without being cold; no sweats; rushes of heat to face; pulse full, throbbing under the finger, irregular, as low as 48-50; sounds of heart strong and impulse lifting chest. Headache is lancinating. Swimming in had on rising, and giddiness which obliges him to lie down again; neither buzzing in ears nor deafness. General sensibility not altered, only some cramp in legs; general weakness. Twenty-four hours after, pain in head same, but anxiety less; pulse 54, always full and regular; sickness less frequent; arraign less scanty, but still some cramps and convulsive movements. 7th. – Pretty good night, headache persists; no cramp, heart-beats irregular first sound is dull and prolonged as a murmur, second loud. He tries to get up, but is again troubled with sickness and giddiness; some colic, but no stools. 8th. – 72 hours after taking drug. He has had relief of bowels 5 or 6 times; headache less; abdomen retraced, no swelling or pain on pressure; pulse 68-70. High-coloured urine, still depositing sediment, but of normal quantity. No appetite; no thirst; sleepiness and (once) sickness continue. 9th. – Headache persistent; a little general aching; tongue dry, coated in centre; pulse 60, regular. 10th. – Good night, pulse 56. 11th. – Same state. 12th. – Patient feels severe pain in dorsal and epigastric regions, so violent on 13th that it makes him cry out. At 4 a. m., limbs still cool, pulse 50. Sickness again. 14th. – Head still a little heavy; abdomen painful on pressure, and gurgling is heard in iliac fossa; pulse 62. 15th. – Symptoms tending to disappear, and patient discharged cured on 16th. (TRADIEU, op. cit., p. 689.)
3. Madame X-, aet. 23, good constitution, sanguine temperament, wishing to kill herself, took, on June 26th, at 7 a. m., 16 granules of digitaline. Two hours later she is seized with violent shivering accompanied with trembling. Wishing to get up she feels giddy and is obliged to return to bed. During part of day these incidents repeated themselves alternately with strange hallucinations. About 8 p. m. she conceals her indisposition and forces herself to take food which is offered to her. A few moments after, fresh shiverings with chattering of teeth, cold perspiration, and dyspnoea. Warmth returns by degrees, violent agitation succeeds it. Complete insomnia and persistent dyspnoea. At 1 a. m., patient says she cannot breathe, rises, is seized with vertigo, and drags herself to the window, where she stays till about 3. Goes back to bed and sleeps, and wakes next day at 7 a. m. without feeling slightest indisposition. Seeing that she had failed then in her attempt at suicide, she takes 40 more granules. An hour after following symptoms occur-patient feels hallucinations, vertigo, frequent shiverings; a cold sweat covers her body. Nausea comes on, followed by excessive vomiting and colic without result. The patient feels herself growing weaker, and ties, but in vain, to feel her pulse beat. In evening vomiting is more frequent, followed by great weakness. No urine, no stools. Patient cannot stir; she is not able to make a sound; feels a if her eyes were much too large and would escape from their sockets. This state lasts all night, and all day on 28th, until 5 p. m.; at this moment the vomiting stops; patient can only speak in a low voice. During night weakness increases; shivering, hallucinations, and cold sweats continue. Impossible to make the slightest movement, every minute she feels sick; burning thirst. She cannot pass water, or relieve bowels. The next passes thus, but towards morning she feels a wish to live and asks for doctor. 29th. – I saw her soon after. She is stretched in her bed nearly motionless. Face very pale, and a rather curious symptoms is a very considerable exophthalmos of both sides. Eyes wide open, conjunctiva of eye and lids lemon- yellow, pupils dilated. Voice inaudible, patient cannot utter a sound. Skin cold and covered with a general perspiration. Pulse small, weak, intermittent, 46 – 48; sometimes almost inappreciable. Tongue dry, white in the middle, a little red at point; intense thirst; nausea, not the slightest appetite. Epigastric region seat of a pretty severe pain, augmented by pressure. For 2 days she has passed neither urine nor stools; bladder does not appear distended. 30th. – Very disturbed night; complete insignia; pulse a little better, 56 – 58; skin a little less cold; intermittence less frequent and less marked. There is a little voice; patient seems less feeble, but least movement causes giddiness. Burning thirst, tongue red at point, great pan in epigastric region; 4 stools. For 3 days no urine, and bladder not distended. July 1st. – No more shivering or perspirations; skin less cold that on previous days. Pulse better, 60 -64; still some intermission, more marked than yesterday. Voice has returned; epigastric trouble a disappeared. Patient has passed water several times, urine red and giving forth a foetid odour. Face less pale, but exophthalmos still very pronounced; injection and coloration of conjunctiva less marked. Three days later patient is in her normal health, but exophthalmos still persists. Pulse regular, not intermittent, 64. (Ibid., p. 692).
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.