6. Dr. J. NUSSER, aet. 36, took, September 27th, 1847, 10 a. m., 10 dr. 2nd dil. During day the following symptoms were observed in the order here given: Itching an left eye, tension about left scapula, itching between right big toe and next one, burning – shooting in middle of right side of chest as if in muscles, slight shooting in middle of liver, m pinching shooting in upper part of abdomen as if in muscles, shooting in left parietal bone, slight shooting – drawing in left inguinal region, scraping roughness in pharynx, making him hawk frequently, tearing in left zygoma, shooting in head of left hip – joint towards outside, shooting pain in gastric region after food, painful griping in middle of left testicle (continuing next d.), painful tearing in bone of proximal joint of index and ring fingers and thumb (continuing next d.), itching in several parts of skin (scalp, thighs, & c.), often changing to pricking and burning, itching, burning, and pricking under skin in various parts, on breathing deeply shooting in upper part of left side of chest internally, itching in anus; when walking, itching, changing to pricking, in skin of middle of back, tearing in upper part of inner side of left scapula as if in bone, tearing – shooting in a back tooth, extending thence into ear, tearing as if in bone about left eye near root of nose, and in other bony parts, cutting in abdomen and above navel after food, simple pain in hypogastrium, tearing inwards in left calf, burning – tearing in left upper eyelid, then tearing in left arm while standing, trembling of this arm and of the whole left half of body; all day frequent obtuse shooting in upper part of left side of chest internally, worst when breathing deeply, frequent tearing pain in lowest right costal cartilage. Evening, weariness of feet and drowsiness. – 28th. Slept well till 3 a. m., but with dreams of ridiculous situations, of travelling, & c. M., after breakfast a liquid, yellow, painless stool, with frequent tenesmus, followed by inclination to go to stool, shooting in hepatic region. Noon, pinching on right side of navel, tearing in right hip – joint. – 29th. Slept well till 3 a. m. Voluptuous dreams, violent erections in sleep and after waking, during coitus tardy emission of semen. After midnight tearing in middle of sternum. M., pricking in scrob. cordis, normal stool. Afternoon, cutting in abdomen with slight call to stool. The 2 last days constant dryness at back of nose, as if in upper surface of velum palati, chiefly in open air, and tearing frequently in left shoulder. Many of the symptoms aggravated by walking in open air. Evening, shooting in interior of left ear, shooting in upper part of right side of chest, cutting below navel after eating sour apples, when walking in open air, with slight call to stool. From commencement of proving till now occasional soreness of uvula. – 30th. Sleep with many disagreeable dreams. Though for 3 days he had only slept till 3 a. m., yet he did not feel tired or sleepy. M., violent erections and sexual desire, after coitus burning in fore part of urethra and feeling of strength and lightness. 9 a. m., after micturition slight shooting in fore part of urethra and in sphincter ani. From 8 to 10 a. m. shooting in fore part of urethra when walking in open air, then itching in anus. Noon, when eating beef and vegetables, shooting deep in chest, as if in lower part of oesophagus, as though something stuck there that distended the oesophagus and could not go down, he could swallow food and drink, but the pain was increased by swallowing, as also by eructation of air, this was followed by cutting in right side of upper part of abdomen. Evening, when walking return of shooting in fore part of urethra and pricking in left testicle, also sharp shooting in tip of left thumb. – Oct. 1st. Sleep restless and only till 3 a. m. M., normal stool, tearing in left metacarpal bones, itching in skin, changing to pricking and burning, tearing in bones (finger – joints, hip – joint, & c.), shooting in lungs, liver, and testicles. – 2nd. Slept till 3 a. m. During day unusual shooting in right testicle. – 3rd. Slept all n. After smelling Mercurius c. 3 shooting in hepatic region. The symptoms lasted till Oct. 9th. He only slept till 3 a. m., but did not feel fatigued in consequence. He always had cutting in bowels after eating fruit or potatoes. The sexual desire diminished, he had often cutting in urethra. His disposition was cheerful, and he felt increased facility in mental work. (Ibid., 84).
7. Dr. PEMERL’s proving lasted from 15th to 25th Aug. He took the medicine, Mercurius cor. 2, daily, 1/2 hour before breakfast. – 15th. 5 dr., no symptoms. – 16th. 12dr., greasy, scrapy taste. After 2 hours, when walking, anxiety, discomfort in vesical region as before stool. After 3 hours a peculiar contractive, twitching pain in some muscular fibres of the right rectus abdominis near navel, lasting 3 m., and frequently returning. After 5 hours dryness of mouth, greasy and nauseous feeling in mouth, but without loss of appetite. Discomfort in umbilical region, no stool. – 17th. 18 dr., felt sick on taking the dose. After 1 hour some nausea, inclination to vomit, confusion of head, especially over eyebrows. Soft stool at noon. 5 p. m., the discomfort in lower part of abdomen recurred in increased degree. – 18th. 25 dr., same discomfort and pain in hypogastrium and rectus muscle. Normal stool. – 19th. 30 dr., after 1 hours peculiar lax feeling in deltoid muscles. He had felt the same sensation on the 16th and 17th in calves and muscles of thighs. Twitching of some muscles in calves (inner side of gastrocnemius). Twitching contractive pains in muscles of right metacarpus. – 20th and 21st. No symptoms except twitching in rectus abdominis. – 22nd. 36 dr., no symptoms. – 24th. 30 dr., rheumatic pains in right deltoid muscle when walking. M., 2 soft stools. Urine scalding. – 25th. Itching – pricking pain in muscles in right hypochondrium and in muscles of right eyeball, also in umbilical region. For some days afterwards felt the twitching counteractive pains in some fibres of the right rectus abdominis muscle. (Ibid., 91.)
8. Soon after the second dose of 12 1/2 milligrammes, sensation of obstruction and anxiety in the praecordial and epigastric regions, then several palpitations. After the third dose, general sick feeling; some pains in the stomach; transitory colic; sensation of weakness and shuddering in the limbs; palpitations. After the fourth dose, painful twitchings in the stomach; weariness of the limbs and trembling when he rises and stands still; great anxiety; frequent palpitations; vague chilliness; sensation of coldness; paleness of face; some nausea; distension of abdomen; borborygmi; colic with tenesmus and 6 stools during the n. On the next day there remained only some sick feeling and less appetite than usual. Three days later the experiment was again made in the same way; the same effects were again manifested, only more intense, especially the anxiety, paleness, inclination to chilliness, weariness of the limbs, and the tenesmus. In addition to this, he had several attacks of vertigo, and twice spasmodic vomiting of serous – like fluid, not preceded by nausea. It required 2 days before he was again in status integro, and he had no desire to make a third experiment. These doses were given fasting, or at least 4 hours after a meal. (MASSELOT, in Arch. Gen. de Medorrhinum, ser. iv, xi, 58.)
9. To ascertain effects of M. on nutrition in healthy subjects, Liegeois injected 4 ctgrms. daily of M. corr., subcutaneously, on four subjects of soft chancre. They gained considerably in weight. (Gaz. des Hop., 1869, p. 350.).
Poisonings
1. May 22nd, 1815, about 5 p. m., I dipped my hands repeatedly into a very concentrated solution of corrosive sublimate to take out some anatomical preparations. I forgot to wash my hands, and went about my other occupations. About 11 p. m. I went to bed perfectly well, and was wakened about 1 a. m. by violent pains in the epigastrium, which rapidly increased to a frightful intensity, somewhat ameliorated by bending the body. They were especially severe in the region of the stomach, and seemed to spread thence over the whole diaphragm. the abdomen was rather sunken and painful to pressure; constricted feeling in the entire thorax; respiration costal, obstructed and irregular; mouth dry, thirst considerable, forehead, temples, chest, and hands covered with sweat, and having an unpleasant feeling of coldness in them. I was in this condition about 1 1/2 hours, when repeated eructations and nausea ensued. I made an unsuccessful attempt to vomit, and then for the first time remembered the sublimate. Putting my fingers to my tongue, I perceived by the sharp taste that I had forgotten to wash them, which I did now as quickly as possible and drank a quantity of sugar – water. About 2 I finally vomited repeatedly, and at first very sugar – water. About 2 I finally vomited repeatedly, and at first very profusely. The vomit was slimy, thick, and had a metallic taste, very acrid, causing a painful constriction of the fauces. Epigastrium very sensitive to touch, and the slightest pressure caused most violent pains. The vomiting ceased towards 4 o’clock. The umbilical region became somewhat painful, and I had three very liquid stools, with tenesmus. Towards 5 I slept, and wakened about 8, with a dry mouth and skin covered with sweat, but I no longer had the feeling of coldness on the forehead, in the umbilical region, and in the hands. the disposition to vomit was gone, but the epigastrium was still very painful. I took that day only six cups of bouillon and three dishes of rice – water. The next day I was able to return to my duties, but an unpleasant feeling remained in the epigastrium for 8 days (CLOQUET, in Huber, op cit.)
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.