20. I. W. B-took Ist-5th dil. In 1 hours pain in left parietal protuberance. In 1 1/2 hours pain just anterior to cartilaginous margin of short ribs. General aching in head. Cutting pains in back under false ribs, forwards and upwards, not noticed after going to bed. (Ibid.)
21. Dr. NEIDHARD took 5 dr. of 1x at 4 p. m. In 5 m. dizziness, particularly in moving about, lasting 3 hours, and oppression in forehead above eyes; soon dull aching in forehead over eyes and especially nose, lasting, with slight intermissions, till evening; also slight aching from back of head down nape. On 2nd day took 10 dr. m. and e. After Ist dose, in 15 m. heaviness over eyes, like a weight, but no pain; in 1 1/2 hours dull pain in forehead over eyes, increased by reading and writing, less severe than on previous day; also oppression over eyelids and slight drowsiness. After 2nd dose, in 10, in m. slight aching over eyes, especially 1., and increased secretion of mucus from throat. (Ibid.).
Poisonings
1. A lad, suffering from constipation, had had lobelia inflata administered to him. Dose unstated. Symptoms:-Pulse quick, small, easily compressed, tongue white furred, abdomen tympanitic but not painful. Did not appear seriously ill. At 3 p. m., after having been in the country, was seen to be worse, was pale, ghastly, and anxious, as if from a great shock; skin mottled; no pulse at wrist; heart’s action very feeble, and its sounds scarcely to be distinguished from each other; breathing extremely laboured; abdomen tympanitic; senses dull, but he answered questions. Vomited matters were olive colour, and “not unlike the coagulated blood deposited from beef-tea.” Stools scanty, and contained membranous shreds in large quantity. P. M. (40 hours after death). -Peritoneal surface of intestines completely covered with lymph quantity; intestines adherent everywhere, but separable by the finger, and presenting a vascular pinkish and slightly granular appearance; liver of a blackish colour; gall-bladder moderately filled with inspissated black bile, containing numerous minute needle-shaped crystals. Internal surface of stomach greatly inflamed-inflammation especially recent at the cardiac orifice, also marked and recent at pylorus. The large and small intestines more or less inflamed throughout, but very recently in the duodenum and upper pat of jejunum, in which was found a large incipient chronic ulcer. Papillae of tongue enlarged, pharynx and oesophagus congested, several lumbrici found in intestines and oesophagus, faeces but slightly coloured with bile. Lymphatic glands and pancreas congested, both kidneys congested and watery. Bladder empty, capillary injection at neck thereof. Old pleuritic adhesion and about a pint of serious fluid in pleural cavity. Entire surface of mucous membrane of respiratory tract shows signs of old and recent inflammation; fibrinous clots found loose in larynx. Brain and membranes greatly congested, no fluid in ventricles. (Medorrhinum Times, xx, 147.)
2. Child, aet. 2, found dead in bed; had received doses of Lobelia from herbalist. Limbs flexible, face scratched as if the child had been suffering severe pain, as the mother said was the case. Penis much discoloured, extremity intensely red. The doses of medicine nearly “strangled” the boy, so that the mother gave only half doses. P. M. -Small quantity of serum in peritoneum; liver pale; gall-bladder distended. Stomach contracted, empty, injected, especially near pylorus, corrugated longitudinally; duodenum slightly injected. Mucous membrane of bladder and urethra injected. Kidneys, spleen, and pancreas healthy. Pericardium held 6 drachms fluid. right ventricle distended with fluid blood, 1. empty. Lungs healthy. Membranes of brain very vascular, veins especially distended, also vessels of cerebral substance; ventricles contained a considerable quantity of serum. Spinal cord and membranes similarly affected. (Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1860, ii, 799.)
3a. In full medicinal doses, say 20 gr. of powder, left acts as a powerful nauseating emetic, causing speedy and violent vomiting, attended by distressing and persistent nausea, and sometimes buy purging copious sweating, and great general relaxation. These symptoms are usually preceded by giddiness, headache, and general rigors. 3b. In excessive doses, or in full medicinal doses too frequently repeated, the effects of L. are those of a powerful acro-narcotic poison. Extreme prostration is first induced; then great anxiety and distress, followed by convulsions and death. The earliest effects are pain in back of head, with feeling of fulness, tightness, and giddiness; these are followed by general tremor, with prickling sensation throughout body, nausea and profuse perspiration. Violent emesis, if not already present, soon ensues. The painfulness and giddiness in head generally alternate with the nausea; and on the occurrence of profuse diaphoresis the head symptoms usually subside. Great prostration of strength and relaxation of the entire muscular system now set in, accompanied by heavy despondency and fear of death. There is much thirst; the hands and arms are thrown about, and the sufferer rubs or beats his stomach; the secretion of saliva and of mucus is increased; there is dryness, burning, and rawness in the throat, and frequent and difficult deglutition, with irritation of the esophagus and oppression of praecordium. Extreme spasmodic difficulty of breathing attends these distressing conditions, and there is great flatulent distension throughout abdomen, especially in neighbourhood of navel, with frequent eructations, and flatulent discharges from bowels. At same time urine is very profuse, and causes a smarting sensation along its passage. Most other secretions are likewise increased. Pulse is irregular, quick, and feeble; or regular, slow, and full. Before profuse perspiration sets in, there is generally a feeling of great restlessness, with distension of abdomen, and irregular and spasmodic respiration. The cheeks are usually suffused; the pupils are dilated, and the eyes become more brilliant. The sense are rendered more acute; the brain is generally excited; the mind wanders, sometimes lapsing even to wild and furious delirium, although a calm and placid sensation pervades the system generally. The evacuations are seldom increased in frequency. The patient mostly remains quite still, since to move causes to return of the sudden and violent vomiting, with additional prostration. After a time he gets short periods of sleep, or sinks into a semi-somnolent condition, and out of one of these sleeps he awakes quite well. (PHILLIPS, op. cit.)
4. From a teaspoonful tinct. Lobel in. Dr. Cutler, a chronic sufferer from asthma, experienced great relief to breathing; a 2nd and 3rd spoonful occasioned vomiting and a kind of prickly sensation through the whole system, even to the extremities of the fingers and toes. This soon subsided, leaving the patient very well. (BIGELOW, Am. Medorrhinum Botany, i, 183.)
5. Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler writes:-“The leaves chewed in the mouth are, at first, insipid but soon become pungent, occasioning a copious discharge of saliva. If they are held in the mouth for some time they produce giddiness and pain in the head with a trembling agitation of the whole body; at length they bring on extreme nausea and vomiting. The taste resembles that of tartar emetic.” (Memoirs of Amer. Acad. Art and Science, 1785, i, 484.).
Experiments on animals
1. Experiments made by Mr. Curtis and Dr. Pearson, of Maryport. Six hedgehogs and four cats were experimented upon; sometimes an aqueous solution, and at others a tincture was used. The tincture was much more powerful.
1a. June 18th, 1849. Tinct. Lobel. administered to a hedgehog at 2:30 p. m.; collapse rapidly came on, and the respirations increased from 16 to 31 per minute. In 1 hours tremor of the limbs was very evident, and in 3 1/2 hours it struggled as if in great pain. Respiration continued languid until 5th day, when after 3ij more the animal died at once. P. M. 24 hours after death. Mucous coat of stomach intensely inflamed and corrugated, small intestines inflamed throughout, especially at upper part; vessels of mesentery enormously distended, external surface of both mesentery and intestines being intensely red; liver of a sooty tinge in places. Gall-bladder empty, urinary bladder intensely inflamed, not much distended (as in some other cases). Heart contained black fluid blood; lungs much engorged, and their pleural surfaces discoloured in patches as if from inflammation. Trachea and bronchi much inflamed; injection of brain and membrane. In one case the rectum was intensely inflamed, and the other intestines much inflamed. An injection (per rectum) had been used here. In others it was noticed that the pyloric end of the stomach was especially inflamed. In all the respiration was much increased in frequency and embarrassed. 1b. July 2nd to a cat, small and “thriveless” in appearance, 3j of infusion=gr. xv was given by mouth at 11 a. m., vomiting followed in 4 m. Respiration increased to 44 per m. After vomiting had ceased, another 3j was given, causing vomiting and purging. Dose repeated at 1 p. m.; at 2 evident prostration; urine voided with pain and difficulty. At 3, a rocking movement was observed in the anteroposterior directions, in paroxysms of 3 m. duration, with short intervals; 9, less collapse, tremors continued. 2nd day, 11 a. m., 3ij administered and retained. 4 p. m., rigors and rocking in lateral direction, almost incessant. 5:30, lying on side and breathing slowly. Died 34 1/2 hours after 1st dose. Much of the fluid was returned by vomiting. Vomiting occurred also (in another cat) when the drug was inserted under the skin. P. M.-Vessels of mesentery gorged; peritoneum rose red and streaked with vessels; mucous membrane of stomach inflammed, especially along lesser curve and at pylorus; intestines inflamed, especially ileum, which with jejunum contained black blood; colon inflamed, no blood, vessels of rectum large and engorged with blood, rectum contained much mucus. Liver pale here and there, rest much injected, extravasation here and there. Substance of kidneys pale, vessels injected (surface vessels). Bladder nearly empty, inflamed throughout, especially neck; pericardium contained large quantity of fluid; right heart contained a small quantity soft nodules; vessels of brain nearly empty, structure natural. (Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., 1850 N. S., xi, 285.)
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.