Introduction
Solanum Dulcamara, L. Woody nightshade, bitter – sweet. Nat. Ord., Solanaceae.
Provings
I. HAHNEMANN, Mat. Medorrhinum Pura, vol. i of original and translation. Contains 318 symptoms from self and 10 fellow provers, and 83 from authors. 2. IBID, Chronic Diseases, part iii of original, vol. of translation. Contains only 8 additional symptoms.
3. Five dr. of tinct., taken at 9 a. m., caused me to waken next morning with violent pain in left wrist, developing what a number of physicians call an “inflammatory rheumatism. ” Anatomically the centre of pain seemed to emanate from the pisiform bone, extending forwards along the branchings of the ulnar nerve to the end of the little finger, and again upward along the main tract of that nerve until it became lost near the inferior origin of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. The pain increased until 9 or 10 next evening. There was redness and swelling of integuments; little finger was flexed, and more or less involved in the inflammatory process. Symptoms subsided 48 hours after first incursion of pain. Concomitants were great cardiac excitement and restlessness of mind. (F. A. ROCKWITH, M. D., A. f. of H. M.M., n. s., i, 289.) 4. A young woman took 10 gl. saturated with tinct. in a wineglassful of water. After a few hours vertigo, she stagger and reels; nausea with inability to bring up anything; sharp shooting pains in left toes and thumb; fearfully confused dreams; she has to get up at night and walk about the room; sinking sensation all over; she fancied she would sink through the bed. (ROBINSON, Brit. Journ of Hom., xxiv, 513.)
5. One dr. of the juice caused yellow watery diarrhoea, with tearing cutting pain in belly before each stool, as if after a chill. (KNORRE, A. h. Z., vi, 35.)
6. One dr. of 1st dil. caused in a child eruption of nettlerash all over body, without other symptoms. (Ibid.)
7. A stout lady, aet.35, took in 3 days an infusion of 3j of the herb. This caused general itching of body, which increased to intolerability; itching worst on the nates, and the skin was reddened there, partly form scratching, and showed long swollen wheals. On inner surface of forearms, red points were early perceived; no other eruption except the wheals on nates – was perceived on the rest of the body, though it itched all over, before the 6th day. She felt less itching when out of bed, but on going to bed even in daytime the itching returned, and perspiration broke out all over skin. N.very disturbed; she rarely got to sleep before 2 to 3 a.m., and then only slept 3 or 4 hour. After the 6th day an eruption broke out all over body. It attained its maximum on the 10th day and she had chills and heats with tendency to sweat, therefore she remained in bed, when she sweated;profusely and the eruption came out, more. It was especially thick over the back, less so on arms and legs. The appearance of the rash, and the sensations attending it, were different on different parts of body. On the back the skin was studded with red points the size of a pin’s head, and the sensation there was as if 1000 fine needles were sticking under and betwixt scapulae. On the arms there were spots where the epidermis was detached in fine scales; the red spots which were there at first had gone, and the patient felt there a smarting itching. On the legs there were red stripes, and she felt as if she was lying up to her hips in needles. She remained 2 day in bed, perspiring freely. The eruption was visible on the 20th day. It remained at its height 10 day and decreased 10 day, so that it lasted altogether fully 4 weeks. The eruption was visible on the 20th day. It remained at its height 10 day and decreased 10 day so that it lasted altogether fully 4 weeks. The cooler the patient kept hereself, the better she felt; bed always aggravated the itching and eruption. The heat and itching of body increased after each meal. (HOPPE, A.h.Z., ii, M.B.14.).
Poisonings
1. A strong healthy boy, aet. 1.1/2, ate a quantity of the berries of D. He immediately became unwell, and the 2nd day the doctor found the following symptoms: – frequent but ineffectual inclination to vomit, inability to swallow, indistinct utterance, though he spoke constantly. He always put his fingers to his mouth, as though he would take something out, spat about him, took no notice of those around him, would not reply to any question, or obey any directions, he scratched his father, was vary restless, and could scarcely be held. Had suddenly jerkings, as from electricity, through the whole body, and cried piteously. The cause of the jerkings seemed to be the abdominal pains, but they did not last long, and then the child began again to speak in his stammering way. He could not walk or stand, and would have fallen if left to himself; he grasped at the air and at his clothes – carphologia. Tongue wit thick white fur; moderately firm, big belly; no stool since the poisoning quick, moderately full, pulse; increased temperature of skin, miliary eruption all over the body, urine passed unconsciously; pupils very dilated. Liq. Kal. carb was given, and he recovered. (BODENMULLER, Medorrhinum Corresp. d. Wurtemb. aerztl. Very., xiv, No. 16, p. 128, 1844; Frank’s Mag., ii.)
2. A cough, aet. 19, took for a fortnight, for eczema, a strong decoction of stamps of day, and on the 15th day besides 32ss extract. He got such a severe attack of cramp in calf that his leg was forcibly flexed on the thigh. He fell asleep and slept quietly but on waking the head felt hot, giddy, and there was dimness of vision, which changed to floating of black specks before his eyes. He then felt as if his eyes were pressed towards out of their orbits. They were nearly motionless, and there was in the a feeling of dryness and tension; pupils very dilated. There also came in the hands such violent cramp that the could not size hold of or retain anything, a t least anything small. Th cramp in colon returned with more violence, and boring pain; pulse slow, intermittent; cold seat covered the skin; all the limbs trembled. The patient lost his speech; tongue swelled, stiff and as if paralysed, he had to write to make himself understood. He got Liq. kal. Carb., and after 6 doses of 10 to 15 drops was quite well. (SCHLEGEL, Hufeland’s journal, liv, pt. 2, p. 27, 1822)
3. 3. In persons of extremely delicate and sensitive nervous system, it sometimes excites slight convulsive movements in hands, lips, and eyelids, especially in cold weather, and when patient is exposed to damp This occurrence is very rare. Although at first terrifying, there is nothing dangerous or persistent about it; approach to the fire rapidly removes the symptoms. It also appears, in women, to act directly on the sexual organs, where it often sets up much heat, and sometimes prorates; it further excites the venereal appetite, and sometime (as I have seen) with violence. It sometimes causes agitation, sleeplessness, pricking and itching of surface; and sometimes (in the treatment of cutaneous diseases) these symptoms are the precursors of a fresh eruption. D. sometimes determines to the had, causing weight, more rarely swimming, dizziness. (CARRERE, Traite de la Douce – amere, 1789, p. 117.)
4. I have observed in several instances, when the system was under its influence, a dark purplish colour of the face and hands, and at the same time considerable languor of the circulation. (Dr. G. B. WOOD, U. S. Disp., sub voice.).
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.