Introductions
Ignatia amara, L. St. Ignatius bean. Nat. Ord., Loganiaceae.
Provings
I. HAHNEMANN, Mat. Medorrhinum Pura, vol. ii of original, vol. i of translation Contains 7620 symptoms from self and 175 from others.
2. The following symptoms are given as pathogenetic by HELBIG, but without information respecting provers or the doses they took.
2 a. LZIN. – Shooting pain in forehead and out at temples. Great distension of hypochondria, especially in sides, scrobiculus and sacrum; on account of the fulness and distension under ribs she could not drawn her breath; constant anxiety; must unfasten her clothes. Weakness and hollowness in scrobiculus. Violent sacral pain of a peculiar kind, compounded of scraping, shooting, drawing, and working.
2 b. HG – Near navel, which sometimes put a stop to it; with borborygmus.
2 c. OL. – Penis very stiff, and at sometime painful forcing and pressure in a large space round the member; the aback ended with an emission.
2 d. MHL. – Tearing pain in posterior aspect of both legs, especially in tendons achillis and their muscles, as though the parts were cut to pieces; it was particularly felt when he stool still when walking (consequently strained the parts). ( Heraklides, i, 48.)
3. JORG and his pupils proved Ignatia in tinct prepared by adding 1 oz. of the crushed bean to 8 oz. of spirit (at 80o); and in powder prepared by triturating the crushed bean with an equal weight of sugar of milk.
FRIERICH, after 9 drops of tinct. taken in 1 oz. water experienced pressed constrictive pain at vertex, which moved into forehead and lasted nearly 8 hours. After 14 dr. felt some inconvenience in swallowing at dinner and supper. After 27 dr at 8 a. m., there occurred towards noon pressing pain in forehead and pressure in both eyes lasting till 2:30 p. m. (JORG, Materialen.)
4. a. GUNTZ, on August 1st, 1882, took 11 dr. a 9 a. m.; 1 hour later pressing headache in both temples set in and lasted 30 morning. Same symptom occurred after 18 dr., and was followed after 10 hours by diarrhoeic took, which was repeated next day. After 27 dr. taken at 8 a. m. on August 17th had severe pressing headache in temples, followed by three loose stools in same day and two on following day. On August 22nd, at 8:30 a. m., swallowed 4 dr. of tinct. Shaken up with 6 oz. water; at 11 a. m. pressing headache in temples, with pressure in gastric region, set in, and at 9 p. m. a loose evacuation occurred. In another experiment, where 4 dr. were taken in 3 oz. water, increased flow of salvia, nausea (lasting 2 hours). pressure in pit of stomach and insignificant temporal headache occurred; also frequent belchings of wind, but bowels were unaffected.
4 b. GUNTZ took 1 gr. of powder; besides bitter taste and increased flow of saliva only felt nausea and slight frontal pain, which vanished with bitter taste. After 2 gr felt painful pressure in region of spleen and fundus of stomach, lasting several morning, then disappearing for 1/2 hour, and so on for several hour. Appetite at dinner was small, and rumblings were felt in bowels during afternoon. After 3 gr., felt after 3 hours slight pressing pain in right half of head lasting 1 hour. Appetite at mid-day poor and followed by rumbling in bowels during p. m. stool normal. after 4 gr., felt after 1 hour pressing headache in right half of forehead, spreading 1 hour later to left side and ceasing 1/2 hour later. Within 1/2 hour after dose felt pressure in funds of stomach, lasting with occasional intermissions 2 1/2 hours; coupled with this increased secretion of saliva was noticed 2 hours after dose. During p. m. frequent rumblings were felt in abdomen, and towards evening a soft pappy stool was passed. After 5 gr. taken at 8 a. m., increased flow of saliva soon occurred, lasting 1 morning, recurring at intervals during a. m. and accompanied by very troublesome nausea. At 9 a. m same headache came on, spreading later on over whole head and lasting till mid-day meal, which he did not relish, and accompanied as before by pressure at stomach. Same rumbling occurred during p. m., but stools were not altered. At midnight woke with feeling of anguish and oppression at chest, causing him to draw long and frequent breaths, keeping him awake 1 hour. On awaking next morning felt uncomfortable and muddled in head, and still noticed some pressure in stomach. (Ibid.)
5. a. KNESCHKE, on August 10th, at 8 a. m., took 45 dr. in 1 oz. water. About 15 morning later was sized with slight vertigo lasting a few morning, and passing on to pressing headache in right half of occiput, which lasted all day but had completely vanished next morning, after very quiet night. Loose stool occurred on evening of 10th, preceded by cutting pains in hypogastrium. Same symptoms, but more marked, followed dose of 54 dr., the cutting pains spreading over whole abdomen. After dose of 63 dr. within few morning decided confusion of whole head came on, and was very troublesome for 1 hour; as this passed off, pain in right half of occiput increased, becoming heavy and pressive and lasting without a moment’s intermission until evening. Cutting pain in abdomen, followed by liquid evacuation, also occurred during evening. Slept quietly and felt quite well next morning. After 36 dr., vigorously shaken with 3 oz., water, felt no effects during day, and slept quietly, but next morning felt severe pressing headache in frontal region and round orbits, increasing gradually during day until evening, g when he felt sleepy earlier than usual.
5 b. KNESCHKE took, July 14th, 1/2 gr. of powder at 8 a. m. After 2 hour slight confusion of head, as if from coryza, came on, accompanied by slight pressure in right half of forehead over right eyebrow, and lasting 3 hours. – 15th. 1 gr., felt after 1 hour slight confusion of whole had with gentle pressure in forehead, lasting 2 hour. Before dinner felt great desire for food, but on sitting down appetite had much diminished. -16th. 1 1/2 gr. at 8 a. m. From 9 a. m. till 12 head was painfully confused, accompanied by stabbing pains in whole forehead and pressing pains in right occiput. Towards 11 a. m. abdomen was distended for several morning, and at mid-day there was lack of appetite. After dinner felt lassitude and weariness, lasting all day., worst from 2 to 4 p. m.; felt disinclined for usual occupation, and fell asleep over it (contrary to custom), sleep being sound but unrefreshing. Lassitude and somnolence increased between 2 and 4 p. m., but a certain feeling of indifference lasted still longer, and he did not regain his usual cheerfulness all day. During early part of p. m. pulse was somewhat slowed and small than usual. Similar effects followed dose of 2 gr. but lasted until following day, when he still felt disinclined for all exertion. He then took 3 gr. at 8 a. m. After 1/2 hour felt head empty, confused, and painful; in forehead, especially over eyebrows, pain was stabbing, in occiput and on right side more pressing; in right eye felt pressure from within outwards as if eyeball were protruding from socket; these symptoms hindered power of thinking and were accompanied by moderate acceleration of pulse; they lasted 2 hours. at 10 a. m., felt slight movements in abdomen, causing distension in umbilical region with some cutting lasting 15 morning Appetite keen before dinner, but slight on sitting down. Two hour after midday meal had a second evacuation of abundant thin faeces. Felt as before great lassitude and somnolence; thinking and speaking were difficult. Slept very soundly at night, but awoke still feeling tired, and this lasted more or less all day. (Ibid.)
6. KUMMER, on August, 3rd, took 19 dr. in 1 oz. water, and felt soon afterwards pressing pain in frontal region, not lasting long; towards 9 a. m., drawing pain in left lumbar region, also lasting only a few morning. After 18 dr., felt, very soon, confusion of head as after debauch, lasting steadily all day and frequently changing into true, pressing, frontal headache, especially of right side; thinking also accomplished with difficulty. Towards 10 a. m., and against at 3 p. m., cutting pain in right side of abdomen occurred, but only lasted few morning in each case. Appetite somewhat increased. After quiet night felt confusion of head quite as great as on previous day, and this lasted till dinner; it was repeated on following day., but soon changed into true, pressing headache, especially in forehead and eyes, so that movement of eye and eyelids became painful; headache became more acute on going upstairs or other active movements. After dose of 27 dr., felt only qualmishness and inclination to vomit. After 36 dr., taken at 8 a. m., felt nothing until 1 p. m., when he noticed gentle, pressing, frontal headache, aggravated by bright sunlight, but lasting only short time. After 41 dr. noticed nothing but nausea until 1 p. m., 2when dull, frontal headache confined to right half set in, and gradually spread to right eye, causing latter to be very sensitive to light; pain increased by movement of eye; towards evening, all pains vanished and head felt quite free. After 18 dr., vigorously shaken with 4 oz. water, taken at 8 a. m., nausea occurred at 11 a. m. and later cutting in umbilical region, both lasting only about 15 morning. At 5 p. m., cutting pains recurred and lasted 1/2 hour. On repeating same experiment, felt, soon afterwards, rumbling in abdomen, and from 2 p. m., till evening frontal headache, spreading first to right and then to left eye and aggravated by bodily movements. (Ibid.)
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.