7b. April 21st I prepared an infusion of the same strength of the bruised leaves. 8:30 a. m., took 3j. At 10, slight vertigo and fugitive glow in different parts of the surface, with increase of sweating. I thought there was some increase of urine both in this and in the first experiment. These symptoms, with itching of skin, increased. At 11:15 glow in epigastrium; fatigue of muscles, legs would hardly bear my weight on going upstairs; sleepiness. At 11:35, while lying down, the pulse was 35 per m., but not so weak as last n. Midday, some feeling of contraction of stomach, not followed by vomiting. Ate dinner at 1:30. sleepiness continued till 4, and the slowness of pulse until after dinner. [ Professor Tully, of Albany, observed the following effects from K. and. ministered for subacute rheumatism (dose not stated), viz. : pricking sensation in skin generally, moderate sweating, warmth in the stomach, relief of pain, and watch-fulness, then, perhaps, some somnolency, vertigo, and imperfection of vision. As the doses, though frequent, were not large, vomiting was not produced. Tully considers this drug analogous to Rhododendron chrysanth.]
7c. July 4th. – Began experiment with tinct. (3ij of recently cut leaves to Oj of alcohol). At 2 and 4 p. m. took 3ij. In about 1/2 h, after 2nd dose glow in epigastrium with vertigo and pricking in skin, and some excess of sweatings. Vertigo gradually increased. At 5:15. 3ij. At 6 pulse 48, strength not altered. At 6:15 took 3ij; at 6:30 considerable somnolency. At 7:45 all symptoms worse, skin cool, pulse 38, weak and irregular. Uneasiness a stomach, not nausea nor yet exactly same sensation as produced by the infusion. Somnolency worse, and excessive fatigue of muscles on slight exertion. Vision affected, darkness coming before eyes every 3 or 5 m., and oftener if in erect posture. Could only take three steps, owing to vertigo and exhaustion. Slight pain in forehead. At 9 p. m. vomited, with the ruminating sensation mentioned before; then fell asleep. Woke at 5 and 7 a. m., felt well in m., except some frontal uneasiness. Whole quantity of tincture taken, 3j.
7d. Jan. 15th, 8 a. m., took 20 gr. of coarsely powdered leaf. At 12, 18 gr. more. All the symptoms resembled those produced in the other trails, but the pricking of the skin was less pronounced. At 3:30 took 40 dr. of laudanum, which rapidly relieved all the symptoms. Feb. 27th, took 20 gr. finely powdered; the effects were just about equal to those produced by 38 gr. of the coarse powder. March 2nd. – Began with 10 gr., intending to continue the dose every 4 hours for some day, but the effect in 2 or 3 h, was as great as that from 20 gr. before. I therefore took 5 gr. 5 times a day for 3 d. Some diaphoresis, improvement of digestion, and itching of skin. No other secretion affected. Similar effects were again produced by preparation slightly differently made. It should be noticed that with Kalmia the feeling of fatigue precedes the vomiting. (“W.,” in Boston Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., x, 213.).
Poisonings.
1.Two cases of poisoning resulted form eating a pheasant, in the craw of which leaves of K. were found.
1a. In one, 1/2 hour after meal, nausea with entire loss of sight; continued retching, and violent pain in crown of head, extending down cervical vertebrae; coldness of extremities; pulse imperceptible, and when returning, beating only 40 in m.
1b. In second case, peculiar noise on breathing, as from spasm of glottis; pallor; excessive nausea, with dimness of slight; violent pain down back; coldness of extremities; pulse feeble, and only 40 in m. (SHOEMAKER, Mat. Medorrhinum of Amer. Provings, p. 158.) For Dr. Faust’s provings of K. see Appendix to this volume.
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.