7 b. Pulse, up to moment of becoming insensible, continued regular and rather full. Any movement of head (which seemed greatly enlarged) most intensely aggravated all the distressing symptoms; as did also application of any fluid to lips, – dread of which was nearly equal to that evinced hydrophobia. During semi-consciousness there was but little loss of voluntary motion;; and sight, hearing and touch were never entirely lost up to time of unconsciousness. Left side seemed more paralysed than right During most of time there was frequent struggling, and face was flushed until lividity commenced. During later action there was profuse perspiration. But the most marked symptom was persistent numbness in occipital region, which lasted some hour after consciousness returned. (PARSONS, Lancet, June, 29th, 1878.)
8. A student of mine, who by mistake swallowed 2 gr. of gelsemin [“concentrated preparation”- EDS.] experienced following symptoms: – In 2 or 3 morning he felt strange sensation in head, and involuntary closure extend to all parts of body. He attempted to walk, but fell immediately to floor; whenever he attempted to move, he felt a peculiar, strange sensation in head; on lying quiet, though entirely powerless, he was conscious of everything about him. His respiration was at first hard, but in a few moments it became slow and somewhat difficult. Circulation was sluggish, and pulse exceedingly feeble. Extremities became cold, and in course of 15-20 morning surface was completely immersed in cold perspiration. He was restored y use of 1/2 gr. doses of camphor, large doses of brandy, and a zinc emetic. After partial recovery, he experienced for several day a feeble, languid state of muscular system; he also passed large quantities of urine, and was troubled with tenesmus and some bloody discharges from bowels. (PAINE, Concentrated Medicines, p. 53).
9. Dr. B-, suffering from severe toothache, took what he guessed to be about 30 dr. of tinct. In 10 morning he said, “I cannot see you. ” His eyes were wide open, pupils dilated, pulse 80-90. He attempted to walk, but staggered like one intoxicated. He was immediately given an ipecacuanha emetic. He wrote with pencil on paper, for he could not speak. “I am very sick, wish to vomit, but cannot. ” In a few moments he vomited, but discharge passed through nostrils. hands and feet became icy cold; pulse regular, 80-90. Under warmth and ammonia in an hour he was able to speak, and soon recovered. (HALE, op. cit.)
10. A young married lady took in morning before breakfast a teacupful of strong decoction of root. In a few morning she said she could not see; her head felt strangely. She called in some of her neighbors, who gave her an emetic of mustard, which caused vomiting before the writer arrived. On reaching house, he found the patient in following condition: – Could not wee, talk, or swallow; glottis seemed spasmodically closed. She could moan, which she did almost continually, but power of articulation was absent. Great trembling, with anxiety; as afraid she was going to die, and was very anxious to know if anything could be done. Face was swollen and of dark colour; eyes distended; pupils dilated; great prostration; pulse small and rapid; tongue and throat very dry. (BREWSTER Hahn. Monthly, xi, 563.)
11. On night of December 5th, 1969, I was called in great haste to see Mrs. F-, who was supposed to be dying in a few minutes I reached her bedside, and found her totally unconscious; breathing stertorous and very imperfect; countenance of livid paleness; lower jaw dropping leaving much wide open; eyelids partially closed and motionless; pupils moderately dialed; pulse 100, regular, but weak. I attempted to administer an emetic, but owing to the dysphagia could not get enough down to induce vomiting. Friction and stimulants were then resorted to, and in about 12 hours consciousness began to return. Recovery was not complete for some day., principal complaint being of great prostration and muscular weakness, particularly of lower jaw, eyelids and arms. After return of consciousness, intelligible speech was at first possible only when jaws were supported; tongue also was stiff, and voice thick and guttural. Patient stated that before she became unconscious, objects appeared double, and then she grew by degrees perfectly blind, and though, naturally enough, that she was dying (it was ascertained that she had taken in the course of a few hour more than 40 min. of the extr.) (PINKHAM, Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. journ., N. S., vol. vii.)
12. In summer of 1866 I took, through mistake, 3 j of flx. extr., and immediately started to see a paralytic patient residing some 8 miles off. Before arriving I became nearly blind. Control over upper eyelids was almost lost. Flexors of hands and arms were paralysed, extensors nearly so. Sensation was blunted in hands and arms, but not in proportion to loss of motion. My speech was somewhat affected. A very disagreeable sensation of head was felt, even before muscles came under influence of drug; but mind was quite clear. In this condition I arrived at the house of my patient, and as I was incapable of using my hands, I directed the nurse to apply the galvanic battery to the patient; and as she was about putting the instrument aside, I asked her to apply the poles to my hands, which she did, and I was instantly relieved, and moreover perfectly and permanently. (MAIN, Ibid, lxxx, 185.)
13. F. R. -, aet.24, suffering from neuralgic pain, took at 1 a. m. a teaspoonful of Tilden’s fl. extr. and in 15 minutes repeated dose. Pain was soon relieved and his eyes felt heavy; but in about 1/2 hour he began to complain of choking, and soon arose struggling for breath, pushing his fingers into his throat, as if trying to tear it open. He staggered, reeling from one room into another, as though intoxicated; and in a short time after these symptoms came on the threw himself upon the floor and became unconscious. I was summoned about 3:45 a. m., and reached house at 4. I found patient moribund, respiration gasping – 3 or 4 per morning, pulse rapid and feeble. He was totally unconscious, and could not be roused; pupils were dilated, not responding to light, and eyes could be touched without causing any contraction of lids; muscles relaxed, lower jaw drooping, skin moist, extremities rather cold. Artificial respiration was kept up for 1/2 hour, but without avail, and he died at 4.30. No convulsions at any time. P.M. 5 1/2 hour after death. Body well nourished; rigor mortise marked. Blood very fluid and dark coloured, showing no tendency to coagulate or turn red on expose to air, even after standing in a large tub for 2 hours. Heart, lungs, spleen, kidneys normal; liver dark coloured, and containing much liquid blood. Stomach contained 4 oz. of light- coloured fluid, mixed with glairy mucus; its internal surface was deeply congested, and marked by tortuous dilated vessels. Brain rather pale, sinuses not congested. Internal substance of cerebral lobe was dotted here and there in small re points; but these were not sufficiently large or numerous to be considered of much pathological importance. No collection of fluid in ventricles. (BOUTELLE, Ibid, xci, 371k).
14. a. To a coloured servant, aet 28, Dr. LODGE gave 15 min. of a tinct. freshly prepared from the dried root. Soon after she came into his room breathing very hard, exhibiting in her countenance intense fear, and exclaiming, “Oh! doctor, I’m dying, I’m dying; do something for me. ” She attempted to lie down upon the bed, but her head barely touched the pillow when she sprang up, convulsively calling out in a loud whisper, “My breath! my breath!” She clapped her hands across her chest rapidly, and seemed unable to retain one position for more than a few movements. Pulse was 40, extremities cold. Stimulants were given; she rallied for a few minutes, then struggled as if for breath, and cried out. Presently she was taken with an excruciating chest pain. In a suffocative spasm she sat down upon the floor, went into an apoplectic stupor, breathing hard and foaming freely at the mouth, and died within 10 minutes of the coming on of the spasm. Previous to this she was conscious and rational, but after it she did not speak.
14 b. One of the medical men called in found patient lying on floor, with extremities cold, no perceptible pulse, eyes staring, jaws rigid. There was at first slow catching respiration, but this soon ceased, and she died within 10 minutes of his arrival. P. M., substance of brain was found healthy, but their was much venous congestion of membranes. Pericardium contained about 3 oz. of serum. (Lancet, 1878, i, 902 from American papers.)
15. Dr. SINKLER gave to a lady of 49, suffering from neuralgia, 5 dr. of fl. ext., 3 times a day. At first each dose caused dimness and some loss of power over bladder; but after 2 weeks he was called to patient, who was reported as ‘very ill and sinking. ” He found her lying on a sofa, unable to sit up or to more at all. Extremities were cold, pulse small and feeble, respirations sighing and jerky, pupils dilated, and eyes suffused. There was pearliest of balder, urine dribbling away constantly; muscular enfeeblement was most marked on right side. Symptoms had been observed the day previous, but had become rapidly worse that morning. On suspension of med., and administration of bromides and morphia, they were soon relieved. (Phil. Medorrhinum Times, viii, 150.)
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.