Observations in animals
Cases recorded by Principal McCall, of the Veterinary College, Glasgow.
1a. An aged horse died suddenly. Autopsy:-The mucous membrane of pharynx irregularly congested, some parts dark coloured, some red, some apparently healthy. There was considerable serous exudation in the submucous tissue, also irregularly distributed; similar conditions some distance down trachea. At the division of the bronchial tubes the membrane was again congested, and in the small tubes it was completely black. Lungs congested; bronchial tubes contained a fluid mixture of mucus, blood and air. Heart enlarged and pale; near apex, on left side, was an irregular patch of darker colour; pericardium was dark and contained fluid. The stomach contained a large quantity of flood, very dry, and of a disagreeable odour. The mucous membrane was irregularly congested.
1b. Another animal was minutely examined during life. At rest it seemed in perfect health. After a slight exertion, it presented following symptoms:-It stood with forelegs forward, neck stretched, elbows out, breathing laboured; could hardly stand. Mouth kept wide open and tongue out. Each respiration was accompanied by a loud sound coming entirely from larynx. Profuse sweat all over; pulse quick, irregular, and intermittent. Impulse of heart increased; venous pulsation; vibration felt over larynx; temp. normal. When at rest these symptoms disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. These animals had been fed on a diet containing Lathyrus sativus. Two horses fed similarly for experiment developed similar symptoms to the above.
1c. Another horse was fed on as large a proportion of the food as it would take, at first chiefly lathyrus, but subsequently less than half. An eczematous eruption appeared on back and withers. The pulse-rate rose from 52 in health to 70-80 after feeling for 50 day; the respiration lessened in frequently (after first increasing for a few d.) from 14-9 when at rest. On exertion pulse 154, resp. 28. By the 32nd day limbs very weak, fell more than once; hair fell off rapidly; no parasite found. Autopsy:-Peritoneum healthy, contained lots of red-coloured fluid like serum. Stomach nearly empty, food of acetic odour; walls thickened and irregularly congested, in some places nearly black; mucous membrane was separated from subjacent tissue. Intestines contained undigested food firmly adherent to walls, which were thickened; mucous membrane as in stomach. Pericardium irregularly discolored, 2 1/2 oz. od same kind of fluid as in peritoneum. Heart large, soft and irregularly marked, valves healthy. Lungs healthy, trachea also; larynx irregularly congested, especially about glottis; liver dark, soft and friable. the absence of marked respiratory symptoms may be accounted for by the fact that the horse had been kept at rest and was killed before the disease had itself produced a fatal result. The blood on microscopical examination showed no micro-organism during life. The ganglionic cells of the motor cornua of the cord were diminished in number and atrophied, especially just under the medulla, where the neuralgia was increased, and some of the cells had undergone pigmentary degeneration, and had lost their processes. Also, thickening of coats of small, arteries in the grey matter. The muscular fibres of intrinsic muscles of larynx, through still striated, showed fatty change, between the fibres much fat; muscles of left side were most affected, especially crico- arytenolideus posticus. Heart-muscles similarly affected. (Prof. McCall enters into an elaborate and conclusive argument showing that the poisoning is due to some specific poison of the lathyrus, and neither to diet nor to bacilli administered along with it.) (Veterinarian, 1886, pp. 789-801.)
2. Messrs. LEATHER and SON report cases very similar to the above. The post-mortem examination revealed to the naked eye chiefly the result of asphyxia. Microscopically in one case several of the intrinsic laryngeal muscles of the left side were fatally degenerated, and the left recurrent laryngeal nerve was smaller than the right, and fibrous on section. In 3 cases examined, the left, and in 2 of them also the right recurrent nerves were atrophied and fibrous. The motor cells of the medulla and the vagal and accessory nuclei were noticeably atrophied. the motor cells of the cord were atrophied and degenerated as the above case, and the neuralgia was increased in the grey matter. In one case early descending changes were found in the upper part of the lateral columns. In the grey matter especially the arterioles were thickened. (Veterinary Journal, April, 1885, p. 223.).
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.