Introduction
Blacklead, plumbago. “A mineral carbon, containing a small indefinite quantity of iron. ” (B. H.P.).
Provings
I. HAHNEMANN, Chronic Diseases, part iii of original, vol. of translation. Contains 1144 symptoms from self and four others.
2. After 1 gr. slight pressure in stomach and eructation. After 2 gr. in 1/2 hour rumbling in bowels and slight pinching betwixt navel and left hypochonder, increased frequency of stools, often with insignificant amount of faeces covered with mucus. (STORK, Buchner’s Rep., xliii, 45-quoted A.h. Z., xlvii, 40.)
3. Dr. PIPER took on May 8th, 4 a. m., a quantity of a trituration containing 1/12th gr. pure G. – 9th, 4 a. m., – 10th, evening, 1/3rd gr. – 11th, evening 1/6th. – 12th. Observed in morning a patch of vessels the size of poppy seeds on left side of vermilion of lower lip; they disappeared after washing, but returned afresh after 4 hours. Had never previously had any thing of the kind. Same evening took 1/4 gr. – 13th, evening 1/4 gr. – 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, evening, 1/2 gr. – 19th 1 gr., nothing observed till 20th, pm., when he felt an acute sore pain on right side of perinaeum. On examining perceived small pale red papules betwixt hairs, very painful when touched. – 21st. The papules and pain having disappeared too, evening 1 gr. – 22nd, evening 2 gr. – 23rd, p. m. Severe thrilling pain in occiput, with heaviness of head, tension and stiffness of nape, pain intolerable when walking, hardly felt when lying. Evening, 4 gr. -24th. On waking morning the same pain, it went off about 7 a. m. Evening, 6 gr. – 25th, evening 8 gr. Next 2 days took no more med. and had no symptoms -28th, 4 a. m., 10 gr. – 29th. After a night passed with much talking and anxious dreams about innumerable dogs and cats, took 4 a. m., 10 gr. and evening 20 gr. Had taken in all 70 gr. From and after 4 gr. had an indescribable taste, which caused several attacks of nausea, probably caused by the accumulated insoluble powder,. On 29th no stool, a rare occurrence. On 30th a hard blackish stool. The same on 31st, evening – June 1st. A pappy stool of blackish colour. Latterly there appeared on body and thighs single small papules, a not unusual occurrence in warm weather. – 3rd The papules had attained the size of pin’s heads, and the fluid in them was brownish yellow; when they burst there was hardly any scab. Then there appeared some painful scattered pimples, which rapidly turned to vesicles; they were confined to the back parts of thighs and legs. They gradually disappeared. Nothing then occurred till the night between 10th and 11th when there was profuse perspiration. Often woke with cramp in calves and the sweat continued to such a degree that by morning not only the hair of head but the bedclothes all the length of body were wet. The urine passed during day was clear, but after 4 to 5 hours showed a glittering cuticle. – 12th. The night was like the previous one, but with hardly any cramp in calves. On waking this and previous morning unusual painfulness of corns. The next 5 night were spent out of bed and none of former symptoms were noticed. From the end of May a constant matting of hair was observed; it had to be combed 8 or 10 times a day, and was with difficulty kept smooth. The hair felt as though it had been lying long in water and afterwards dried and stuck together. This was last observed on June 19th. (A.h. Z., xviii, 126, 133.).
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.