1b. An infusion of 10 grm. of powdered leaves in 90 grm. of water was injected into the crural vein of a dog, in three portions, 2 – 3 m. apart. Some instants after first injection, saliva began to flow abundantly, and its eyes filled with tears. A little later, vomiting was produced, then diarrhoea. Sanguinolent mucus escaped from the nostrils. Pulse was small, unequal, 100; pupils at first enlarged, but soon returned to normal state. The animal trembled and appeared very feeble. It died during n. P. M. – Intense congestion of mucous membrane of stomach and bowels; brain and its membranes also congested. There were ecchymotic points in lung, especially below pleurae. (VULPIAN, Path. Exp., i.)
2a. General nervous system. – Injected under skin of frogs Jaborandi causes tetanic convulsions, not unlike those of strychnia. These continue after removal of brain, but cease with destruction of spinal cord. In 2 dogs narcotised with morphia, and in 2 rabbits to which chloral had been given, no convulsions occurred. The difference between the frog and the mammal may have been a question of dose. No marked effect on the irritability of the motor nerves or of the muscles was noticed.
2b. Circulation. – In the dogs and rabbits (narcotised as above) injection of Jaborandi into jugular vein was followed at once by distinct slowing of pulse. No initial quickening (as observed by Dr. Ringer in human subject) was observed. The pulse was diminished to one third of its previous rate. In the rabbit the effect rapidly reached its maximum intensity and speedily diminished. During the height of the effect stimulation of the pneumogastric nerve produced the ordinary inhibitory results, the heart’s action ceasing in diastole and recommencing on the withdrawal of stimulus. In the case of the frog the injection of atropine was necessary to cause the heart to begin work again. Jaborandi, while acting similarly in this respect to physostigma, does not so rapidly exhaust the inhibitory fibres. A rapid but not very great fall of blood – pressure occurred in the dog and rabbit. If the web of the frog’s foot be examined after injection under skin of back of Jaborandi, the arteries are seen to dilate and the capillaries and veins to become full and red. The rapidity of the flow diminishes considerably, sometimes amounting to complete stasis over the whole or the greater part of the web, while the heart is beating 20 per m. The stasis gives way partially when the heart is revived by atropine. The same stasis was observed whether the sciatic nerve was divided or intact. After the injection of Jaborandi into the jugular vein the vessels of the ear on the side on which the sympathetic was intact were dilated, but less so than on the side where the nerve was divided. Stimulation of the divided nerve caused contraction and pallor as usual. The tracing of the blood pressure was remarkable for the great flattening of the respiratory curves, a flattening which could not be explained by changes in the respiratory movements.
2c. Secreting Organs. – In the dogs and rabbits, very soon after injection, a thick viscid mixture of mucus and saliva dropped from the mouth and clear fluid ran from eyes and nose. When a cannula was placed in the submaxillary duct a flow of saliva like chorda – saliva soon took place. The secretion soon reached a maximum and speedily declined. It was unaffected by previous division of the chorda tympani, and was therefore peripheral in its mechanism. The Jaborandi seemed rapidly to exhaust the gland, as electric stimulation of the chorda tympani was followed by a much smaller flow than if Jaborandi had not been used. In the frog a viscid secretion from the mouth and from the whole surface of the skin occurred. In the dog, after death, a large quantity of mucus was found in the trachea and bronchi and much acid fluid in the stomach. Jaborandi appears to increase the peristaltic action of the intestines. (LANGLEY, Brit. Medorrhinum journ., 1875, ii,241.).
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.