7. W. OEHLER, act. 22, of sanguine irritable disposition, took Nov. 7th, 1835, m., 1 gr. Much eructation, with pains alternately in chest and belly. – 8th, 9th, 10th, m., 2 gr. No symptoms. – 13th, m., 5 gr. Violent cough and coryza. Constant chilliness. After 7 day urging to urinate. – May 21st, 1836, 4 gr. After 8 hours flow of mucus and saliva, sharp, burning, sour taste, pain in pelvic region, itching all over body. – 23rd. 4 gr., the pain in pelvic region increases, and is accompanied by diarrhoea, which lasts 10 day, gradually going off. – 24th, 4 gr., headache with vertigo. Papular eruption on thigh and right corner of mouth. Many dreams of events that occurred during day (lbid.)
8. FR. REICHMANN, aet. 20, sanguine temperament, took November 6th, 1 gr. Disagreeable salt sour taste. Soon, sneezing. Swelling of upper lip. Some eructations, griping in belly. Pulse 74, generally 70. Coldness of right arm. – 7th. gr. Soon sneezing; increase of swelling of upper lip – 15th. 5 gr., tension in face with forcing towards eyes, especially right side. Urging to stool. On 5th n., epistaxis from right nostril. After 6 day spasm in left eye, swelling of lower lip, cramp in right index and leg. (lbid.) 9. F. VULPIUS, aet. 21, phlegmatic melancholic temperament, took November 5th, 1835, 1 gr. Sneezing with violent coryza. Pulse, usually 65, rose in 4 hours to 80, then to 90, for several hours – Nov. 6th. 2 gr., sneezing with coryza, pulse 85. – 7th. 3 gr., sneezing with coryza, sourish taste. – 14th. 5 gr. Soon spasmodic drawing in cheek to maxillary joint sometimes with tearing in superior maxilla. After 6 hours pulse 85. After 8 hours shooting pain in right temple, going and coming; violent rigor, afternoon. After 12 hours, in evening, violent headache, goes off next day, spasmodic pressure in maxillary point, with single stitches in both jaws and teeth, especially right side; sneezing with coryza. After 24 hours pain in occiput, sometimes extending to both jaws; evening, occasional shooting in various parts of face. After 28 hours vesicles on lower lip. After 72 hours rheumatic pains in various parts. After 6 days pain in right temple, urine very turbid. – May 18th, 1836. 4 gr., burning alkaline taste. After 6 hours violent shooting pain in right knee – joint. After 48 hours confusion of head, some cough. – 30th. 4 gr., violent coryza. (lbid.) 10. F. WERTHER, aet. 23, choleric temperament, took Nov. 6th, 1 gr., 7th, 2 gr. No symptoms. – 8 to. 3 gr., violent itching all over body. (ibid.)
11. P. H. WILKEN, act. 22, sanguine temperament, took June 3rd, after breakfast, 4 gr. Immediately increased mucus in mouth. After 8 hours some stitches in eyes; empty feeling of occiput with peculiar feeling in nape muscles, then pain in occiput; anorexia. – 4th, after breakfast, 4 gr. After 10 hours stool rather looser than usual. After 12 hours, in evening oppression of chest with feeling as if lungs were slightly constricted with a narrow thread. Next m. this was nearly gone, He then took 4 gr. In afternoon the chest pain returned with greater force, and by evening had become very violent. The following 3d. the chest pains continued, but went off on 4th day, when he took 4 gr., where – upon the chest pains recurred, but again went off in 2 d. Feeling of uneasiness. (lbid.) 12. A girl, act. 25, suffering from face ache, took 1/5 gr. This caused dryness in throat and chest with cough and constriction of chest as from sulphur vapour. (ibid.) 13. I took a single dose of 5 gr. dissolved in water, and found a sense of congestion to the head, accompanied by pain of forehead. A few weeks after, I took a dose of 10 gr., and the same symptoms were produced, continuing about 2 d. I then waited for a period of some months, and took a dose of 15 gr. in a glass of water. It first produced slight acceleration of spirits, followed by congestion of brain to such an extent that one half of head, face and nose felt paralysed. The symptoms continued for 2 day, and then gradually subsided. There was also a loss of taste, being scarcely able to distinguish different kinds of meat. The muscles of the plate felt contracted, and the mucous membrane of mouth and throat appeared tanned, as from tannic acid. I have frequently used (while attending scarlatina patients) a solution of K. chl. as a wash for the mouth in the m., but if continued for 2 or 3 day in succession, similar symptoms to those I have described, but in less degree, were produced. (OSBORN, LANCET, 1859, ii, 364.) 14. E. T.D. -, in perfect health, took Jan. 7th, 1832, and on 11th, 3j, without effect. On 16th took, which caused considerable diminution of appetite, and some flatulence, for several d. On 21st, at 4 p. m., pulse 80, took. In an hours pulse was 64; in another hour it varied from 56 to 65, a little exertion or movement instantly raising it to latter number; it was also much smaller and weaker. Shortly after dose, weight, fulness and distension began to be felt in epigastric region, gradually increasing, with twisting sensation and flatulence, to 10 p. m., when brandy relieved. N. was quit, but next day weight and fulness, with twisting, recurred, amounting to rather severe pain, but subsiding spontaneously towards n. The same thing occurred on two following days, requiring opium for relief, and for some days yet all food caused uneasiness. For several weeks following prover had hemorrhoidal protrusion, which he had never experienced before. There was also diuresis for first 18 hours. (TULLY, Bost, Medorrhinum and Surg. Fourn. vi 327.) 15. W. N.B -, in perfect health, likewise took -)j and zj without effect. Jan. 16th, at 7 p. m., pulse 76, took zss. In an hours or two pulse was diminished considerably in force, and about 10 beats slower. Some diuresis occurred, but n. was quiet. Next day strong sense of weight and distension at stomach, with deficient appetite and flatulence. These symptoms continued through 18th and 19th, so that animal food could not well be taken. On 21st, being well again, he took at 4 p. m. zj pulse 72. In an hour it had fallen, and was considerably smaller and weaker than usual. It continued at same point to 7 o’clock, rising to 64 on exertion; by 8 it had fallen to 48, and was still smaller and weaker. Between 7 and 8 copious alvine evacuation. Between 8 and 9 walked 1/8 mile, and immediately on returning had some heavy oppressive pain and sense of sinking at stomach, so urgent as to require speedy mitigation. Pulse now only 36; moderate sweating; 2 oz. of brandy relieved, and n. was quite. Next m. weight and pain at stomach recurred, relieved by brandy again, but returning after food, and at length became so severe after a short walk as to require full doses of opium (up to 20 gr.). Pain had now extended to umbilical region, and become lancinating; there was swelling, hardness and soreness, intolerance of least pressure, in both epigastric and umbilical regions, with inability to sit erect, and much flatulence and eructation. By evening the opium had relieved, but a paroxysm of vomiting occurred at 9 p. m. N. was good, and next m. he only felt some vertigo. (ibid.) 16. Dr. TULLY himself took same doses with similar results, including the hemorrhoidal protrusion, and rather more diuresis. (lbid.) 17. ISAMBERT experimented on himself and others with K. chl. He found it eliminated rapidly and unchanged, principally by salivary glands and kidneys. Doses of 1 – 6 grm. produced no appreciable result. From 8 or more grm. salivation occurred for 2 – 3 hours with saline taste, and salivary glands continued “weak” for 5 or 6 d. A slight alteration in voice was noticed. The only constant effect on the digestive function was increase of appetite. In high doses it showed well – marked diuretic properties. Twenty grm. daily induced frequent micturition, and slight sense of weight and pain in renal region. Urine during whole time of elimination was strongly acid, and deposited urates abundantly. (lbid., lxiii 32.).
Poisonings
1. An inquest held Jan. 16th on the body of Mr. John S. Tuttle, of Bergen, New Jersey, revealed the fact that deceased was suffering from phthisis; that he applied to a physician, who ordered zviij of K. chl. to be put up in twelve packages, one of which was to be taken daily in a pint of water. He took 4 powders on 4 consecutive days, when pains in bowels became very severe, incessant vomiting came on, and finally death ensued. Drs. Booth and Olcott made a P. M. examination, and found external coat of stomach inflamed; internal coat was yellow (as was matter he had vomited), it was soft and could be easily separated of with the handle of the scalpel, leaving the muscular coat bare. Both witnesses were of opinion that the medicine was the immediate cause of death. (Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1861, i,159.) 2. Dr. FOUNTAIN took on march 22nd, 1861, at a single dose, 1 oz. potass. chlor., with a view of verifying his belief in its innocuousness in large doses. The most violent results followed, viz. inflammation of the stomach and intestines, and a copious diuresis, lasting several h;, followed by complete suppression of urine for 6 day preceding his death. (Amer. Medorrhinum Times, April, 1861, p. 245.) 3. A little girl, aet. 2/1/2 years, took about 1/2 oz. of potass. chlor.; she had severe vomiting, which lasted for 7 hours, when she died of gastritis in spite of all help. Another remarkable symptom of the poisoning was the profound lethargy of the child, which probably prevented its showing symptoms of pain. ( Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1878, ii, 966.)
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.