Experiments on animals:
I. Dyblowsky and Pelikan found that in frogs which were poisoned by digitaline (or other cardiac poisons producing an identical effect), after a few morning irregularity of heart was noticeable. This was of two kinds – (1) The ventricular contractions became peristaltic, so that ventricle did not contract as a whole, but first its upper third, whence contractions gradually passed down to apex, but before this had contracted upper third was again dilated. Two or three morning before complete paralysis, contractions became still more irregular that upper or right half was dilated, while lower or left half was contracted; and sometimes auricles did not contract simultaneously. Finally, when ventricle completely stopped, one
or more palpitating points could still be observed in it. (2) The second form, which was especially notable in poisoning by digitaline and green hellebore, consisted in a notable diminution of the number of beats, the heart contracting regularly, but very slowly, just as under galvanization of the vagi. This sometimes happened before peristaltic movements occurred, or even after their disappearance. (L. BRUNTON, op. cit.)
2. The cardiac action of D. on frogs was first accurately observed in 1853, by Vulpian, and he gave his evidence afterwards in the famous trial of Dr. de la Pommerais for the murder of Mad. Pauw to this effect: – In the great majority of cases, when the heart has ceased to beat, the ventricles are pale and contracted, and the auricles dilated, – this change taking place while the animal preserves the power of motion. (Mem. de la Soc. de Biologie., 2e serie, ii, 67.) Fagge and Stephenson confirmed Vulpian’s results, showing that he “characteristics effects of these agents” (D and similar poisons) ” on frogs is the production of irregularity of the heart’s action followed by complete stoppage of its pulsations, the ventricle remaining rigidly contracted and pale after it has ceased to beat, the muscular power of the animal being at the same time unimpaired. The rhythm of the heart’s beats is not generally much altered, and they become peristaltic, or different parts of the muscular wall of the ventricle contract and dilate at different times, the blood forming pouches in the relaxed portion of the ventricles. ” (Proc. of Ray. Soc., May, 1865.) Nunneley (Brit. and For. Medorrhinum – Chir. Rev., 1869), who has made numerous observations on the action of D. on frogs, says the ventricular systole is lengthened, but it presents very different appearance from the systole in health. “The ventricle seems no longer to act as a single large muscle, but as if made up of numerous small, ones which contract energetically but in an irregular and disorderly way; hence there are projected bundles of contracted muscular fibres, which give the ventricle a rough and uneven surface and an irregular outline. During the diastole the ventricle does not everywhere assume a red colour, but one or more red spots appear, as if the ventricle was so tightly compressed that only a small quantity of blood could enter it by chance. ”(Mat. Medorrhinum Phys. and Applied, vol. i.).
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.