19. A stout healthy young woman had severe toothache, and was applying a very small piece of lint dipped in the 1 per cent. solution, when it accidentally fell into her mouth and was swallowed. In about 5 morning, after feeling giddy and sick, with headache, she became insensible. Her countenance, naturally florid, was unaltered, breathing tranquil, pulse full and rather quickened,. I tested her sensibility to pain, and called loudly to her, but without producing any impression. About 3 m. after insensibility had commenced, a slight failure in the pulse was detected, whereupon she had some stimulant poured down her throat, and quickly recovered, complaining of some headache, but with the toothache gone. (Ibid.)
20. I took 1 min. of Gl., my pulse being 80. Half an hour before I had seen my brother take the same dose without any serious effect, and we now purposely changed the subject of conversation. In the course of a few m. I exclaimed, “I feel drunk. ” This sensation was quickly followed by a dull aching pain at back of head, which was alternately better or rose, each accession becoming more severe. It soon extended to forehead and back of neck, in which there was decided sensation of stiffness. There was also some difficulty of swallowing, succeeded by nausea, retching, and flatulence. A profuse perspiration ensued, and in 15 m. the symptoms began to abate, but I continued dull and heavy and my pulse was now 100. Considerable headache remained, which increased in after part of day to such an extent that at 6 p. m. I was obliged to go to bed. At daybreak I was not relieved, but after a few hour more sleep I arose in my usual health. (F. A. JAMES Ibid., 1858, ii, 383.)
21. A lady suffering from severe facial neuralgia took 2 1/2 min. of Morson’s solution (1 in 20) in a teaspoonful of water. In 2 or 3 m. the began to complain of sickness and faintness. These rapidly increased, and there was, for a few moments, unconsciousness, accompanied with convulsive action of the muscles of the face, and stertorous breathing. Face-became pale, and pulse alarmingly feeble. After swallowing some brandy and water he vomited, and the unpleasant symptoms gradually subsided. (BRADY, Ibid., March 12th, 1859).
22. The following symptoms were produced by a single pilule of Gl. I. The subject of the experiment was a married woman, aet. 33, subject to irregularity of the circulation and neuralgia. At the time of taking the Gl. she was in tolerable health. We give the account in her own words:-“Dose about 5 p. m. At 6:30 [*The tardy appearance of the symptoms may seem to cast some doubt on their genuineness in this case. But in vol.xxi, p.458, of the same journal, Dr.Dudgeon reports an experience of his own, in which, having accidentally inhaled Gl.from the explosion of a bottle of it in his hand, no effect from it was observed at the time, but about 3 hour later its characteristic headache set in with great severity, lasting all e.and through night., and even felt till after breakfast next morning.–EDS*] sudden dimness of sight; heat in eyes with feeling of tension; crushing weight on forehead, particularly between brows and across nose; throbbing and sharp darting pain in right ample, then in both, and behind ears. Pain steadily increased, and for 3 hours was almost intolerable. Tea then afforded partial relief, but symptoms quickly returned, and lasted till 3 a. m., gradually including nausea, palpitation, thirst, choking sensation in throat, and great depression. Bathing temples and back of neck freely with eaude Cologne gave instantaneous relief to head symptoms; and though they returned as spirit evaporated, it was in less intensity. This was done several times, and at 4 a. m. I fell asleep, remaining thus till 7. I awoke nearly free from pain, but have had returns of it at intervals during day, with a sharp attack of the old crushing spasms of the heart. Cold feet; general discomfort. Pulse rose on taking the Gl., and has continued high till now”(2 hours after). Next evening a similar attack, though slighter, was experienced. (Brit. journ of Hom., xviii, 139. 1860.)
23. When about to sit down to dinner, Dr. J. G. WOOD, from mere curiosity, touched with his tongue the open mouth of a small vial containing the Ix dil. of Gl. No results were anticipated. The first and immediate effect was lightness and buoyancy of body as from inhalation of ether, followed immediately by a full, crowding, pressing sensation in brain, accompanied by dizziness and whirling; also entire loss of appetite, though this was strong 5 m. before taking drug. Head felt enormously large; great mental agitation; pulse, ordinarily 64, immediately went up to 96; trembling of hands and arms, so that he cannot hold knife and fork steadily. Pressure on brain gradually increased, so that in space of 10 morning it seemed on point of bursting. Visionary objects passed before eyes; great difficulty in canvassing from diminished power of tongue, and confusion of ideas; pulse rapidly ran up to 130, and carotids pulsated violently. Cracking sensation in brain, obliging him to hold on to head during every movement to prevent an apparently threatened rupture of cranium; confusion of ideas so great he could not tell where he was; pain in head intense, most severe in right side. Obliged to lie down, and immediately fell into a heavy sleep, from which he was soon roused by a professional call. When rising, pain and pressure in head so severe he could not stand; obliged to lie down again for a few moments. Pulse now 140. Went out to visit patients; somewhat relieved in open air, and – though still greatly confused, and scarce knowing where he was or what he was about- when his attention was fixed by an effort of will remembered his patients perfectly, all their symptoms and the medicines prescribed, without once mistaking. Shocks in brain, synchronous with every pulsation of arteries. On returning home attempted to lie down, but could not on account of increased pressure and throbbing in brain, which were so much increased on attempting to assume the recumbent position as again to oblige him to hold on to head as if to prevent rupture of cranium. He became frantic, could neither lie, sit, nor walk, but pitched about like one intoxicated, incapable of controlling muscles of locomotion. Cold water now poured on top of head produced spasms ending in vomiting, after which (7 p. m.) he became comparatively easy for short time; very soon, however, pressure and throbbing in brain returned, and continued to increase till a second vomiting which was followed by similar relief, recurrence, and a third vomiting. A cup of warm tea, now taken, seemed to afford decided relief, though of short duration (camphor at 3, and belladonna at 5, had been of no service). at 9 took a cold bath and went to bed, sleeping uninterruptedly till 6 next morning. On rising felt very weak; no appetite for breakfast, head full and dizzy. At 10 a. m. general sick weak feeling, with pressure and fulness of head. No appetite for dinner. All symptoms of previous day increased till 3 p. m., then gradually diminished. Sleep sound. On 3rd day symptoms less severe, but same in character. Head symptoms commenced about 9 a. m., and steadily increased till 3 p. m., then gradually diminished. Sleep this night disturbed, full of dreams, constantly occupied, during sleep, with professional duties. Dispirited and apprehensive.
The symptoms occurred in the above order for several successive day, but every day less intense, until they finally disappeared. According to others, his general appearance was like that of one intoxicated. He frequently asked if he should die, and what would be done with him. None of these questions can be remembered. ( Trans of Amer. Inst. of Hom. for 1860.)
24. Dr. ISAAC COLBY took, June 17th, 1856, at 10 a. m., 2 dr. of 1st dil. First and immediate effect, confusion of ideas and loss strength. Slight and hearing both affected, indistinct. Fulness and pressure in fore-part and top of head with throbbing, pulsation, and confusion of all senses. Sensation of balancing, requiring constant effect to keep head erect, which inclined to drop as on going to sleep. Undulating sensation, increased by every turn of head; sick, faint, death-like sinking at epigastrium, with nausea such as results from excessive dizziness induced by rapid whirling of body. Great weakness in middle portions of thighs and arms. All symptoms continued 2 hours without abatement, when inhalation of camphor occurred to mitigate some of them, but the more prominent remained uninfluenced. After 4 hours fulness and throbbing of head continued unabated, together with dull headache, which appeared rather to increase till retiring for the night. Awoke on following morning with same fulness and throbbing, which occupied whole fore-part of head, and appeared to be deep-seated. ( Ibid.)
25. STEINTZ took at 4 p. m. a small portion of a drop; it tasted sweet, caused scraping in soft palate and throat, making him swallow his saliva repeatedly. The scraping increased rapidly, spreading all over pharynx, where it caused intolerable pain. After barely 2 m. there came on constriction and tightness of chest with anxiety, perceptible palpitation of heart with need to draw a deep breath. In crown of head violent pressive pain which passed into an undulating and throbbing, and this spread all over head, specially about sagittal suture. Music and moderate exercise did not aggravate it. The pulse increase to 96, was very full and hard. Feeling of heat in eyes. 7 p. m., headache in open air much increased, extended down to eyes, accompanied by heaviness of lids and sleepiness. Went early to bed and fell sound asleep; towards, morning disturbed by home- sick dreams, which caused him to weep. Next morning he was much relieved after discharge of very foetid flatus. During forenoon several attacks of violent palpitation of heart. Towards evening the headache returned but was mainly pressure in crown with occasional shooting in left temple. The following day these symptoms frequently recurred. (Seitsch d. Verbascum hom. Aerzte Oesterr., ii, 18.)
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.