20. Dr. METCALF prescribed for a young lady, suffering from chronic headache, a dose of Lachesis 30 every n. for 6 n. At the end of the time she complained of a new and annoying symptom. After taking 2 or 3 doses she had every evening from about 9 o’clock a little fluttering, nervous cough, apparently excited by tickling in the larynx, unattended by pain, expectoration, or any symptom of a cold. It came at no other time, and ceased on her ceased on her going to sleep. The Lachesis was discontinued, and the annoyance disappeared. (N. Am. journ. of Hom., ii, 158.).
Poisonings
1. The following are given by HERING as effects of bite of snake. Loss of consciousness, with vomiting and purging; loss of consciousness (2 day after), with somewhat irregular motions of limbs, covered with cold, clammy sweat, pulse small, slow, almost imperceptible; loss of consciousness with loss of strength and disappearance of the pulse. Vertigo (chronic result); a condition similar to intoxication. Expression of pain in face with coma; face swollen, generally puffy; dryness in mouth and thirst. Constant inclination to vomit, with anxiety and oppression of chest. Neither stool nor urine for 7 days (secondary effect). Pulse small and rapid, with hot skin. Bitten limbs became inflamed and swollen. Faintness and coldness, so that all the limbs became stiff, and he sank to the earth powerless (after 2 1/2 hours he was found as above, and died in spite of all remedies; from bite of a serpent, ” boschmeister,” similar to the surukuku, in an Indian who had been bitten above elbow). He falls unconscious to ground, as if struck by lightning, has an involuntary stool and vomits; intolerable pains extending from the hand that is bitten to the chest; the place of the bite became gangrenous, hands and fingers became swollen and insensible, the inflammation extended to arm, swelling to shoulder, here and there gangrenous blisters (arm was amputated). Constant sleeplessness, very much exhausted. Constant fever with dry skin, dry mouth, and constant thirst; dry burning skin, dry coated tongue, constant thirst, small rapid thus pulse, weak eyes. (Opium cit.)
2. While engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with yellow fever last year, I received a hurried call fifteen miles away to see a case of “snake-bite.” My informant was a brother to the victim, and in response to my questions said: “Hain’t bin doin’ nuthin. Hain’t no whisky on the mountain, and hit’s a d-d copperhead, doctor.” Now this reptile is deemed by all mountaineers the most vicious and dangerous-striking silently, swiftly, deeply, and often fatally. I had never treated a case of this character, and therefore gladly seized this opportunity of witnessing and learning something new. So, turning my yellow fever patients over to a co-labourer, I rode to the cabin of my new patient on the mountain, and arrived about 7 hours after he had received his wound. When I entered the room the pitiable, trembling victim was lying on a couch before me. He was about 21 years old, heavy built, of sanguine-lymphatic temperament. His right arm was bandaged, and his hand covered with saturated tobacco. Standing by his side I remarked the following symptoms; Trembling all over, rigors, hurried, laborious breathing; flushed face, eyes bloodshot and suffused with tears, great anxiety, voice tremulous and weak, extremities cold, pulse 110 to 115, small, jerky, wiry. Laying his hand over his heart, he said: “Here, doctor, I suffer the most. Hit’s powerful sore. I know I’ll die.” Heart’s action tumultuous, slight nausea, tenderness over the epigastric region, intense headache, photophobia, severe aching in back and limbs, tongue flat, spongy, with red edges; much mucus. When I had stripped off the bandages I discovered two small, penetrating wounds on the dorsal surface of the hand, near the knuckle of the second finger, about three fourths of an inch apart, form which oozed a watery substance, and around which the tissues were of a greenish hue, shading off into yellow from the wound. His hand was considerably swollen, as was also the arm up to the shoulder. I was surprised to see in the totality of the symptoms such a fac-simile of the train of terrible symptoms I was combating in the city. The case was a miniature mirror, reflecting, as it were, the condition of my patients in the city. With much confidence thought speed along the track of theory to conclusions; from conclusions rapidly to action, thus; First stage of blood poison; its similar, first stage of yellow fever. Decision; Aconite Ist, I dr. to 5 oz. water; I teaspoonful every 30 m. till reaction sets in and perspiration freely follows, then every h. I ordered his hand plunged in as hot water as could be borne; hot bricks around and extra clothing over the patient. Result: Free perspiration in I hours, with great improvement in his condition. Passed n. comfortably, and at 9 a. m., 24 hours from the time he was poisoned, I found him resting easy. A marked yellow tinge of the entire surface, with eyes and tongue deeply tinged; a general stiffness and soreness, with “tired feeling,” took the place of the intense pain of the few hours previous; heart still painful. The next day he was up, presenting all the appearance of one who had shaken hands with “Bronze John” upon short acquaintance and could not let go; a deep yellow pervaded the entire surface of his body. A month later I met the patient again. His hand was still puffy, with a general soreness upon pressure. (D. G. CURTIS, M. day, Amer. Hom., Nov., 1879.).
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.