17c. After more than 5 mos. I commenced my third proving with 10 gr. of 1st trit (10:90). Symptoms: In m. great hawking up of mucus; in urinating flying stitches in bladder, which after complete evacuation of the urine disappeared again; towards noon starting – shooting in muscles of left arm, in region of elbow, lasting 10 – 15 m. and returning in afternoon. After dinner distension of a abdomen with frequent emission of flatus; a mucous evacuation, with straining and burning in anus. In evening repugnance to beer and tobacco. In n. flying chills in sacral region, and involuntary emission of a few drops of slimy fluid from anus. 11th – 14th. – No symptoms, with exception of thin fluid mucous stools, and nights full of dreams. On the 15th, 10 gr. Feeling of heaviness in lower extremities as if after a long tour on foot; frequent sneezing. In afternoon sudden call to urinate, with emission of a considerable quantity of pale urine. This urging was repeated 3 times at short intervals, whereon much urine always followed. In evening violent stitches in l instep, as if with a red – hot needle. Two slimy evacuations. 16th, 17th, and 18th, daily 10 gr. Except heaviness in legs no medicinal action. On 19th, external meatus of left ear was swollen and painful to contact. On following day these morbid phenomena remained unchanged. 21st. – Pressive pain in root of nose; great flow of mucus, with occasional stoppage of left nostril. In evening on left tibia pressive pain, as if a band were bound round it too tightly. On 22nd and 23rd no medicinal action. On 24th, 10 gr. In course of forenoon four tenacious mucous stools. In n. tearing and drawing pains in wrists and ankles, so that I was aroused out of sleep. Although perfectly awake, yet I could open the eyes only with effort. On 25th, 26th, and 27th, no symptoms. On 28th, 10 gr. Appearance of a vesicle the size of a pea rolled with bloody serum on nape of neck near hairy scalp. Four diarrhoeic stools. On 30th the vesicle had dried up, and there remained only a scab. Although I took no more medicine, yet phenomena appeared up to Nov. 15th which I was obliged to ascribe to the action of salt; tickling cough, with hawking up of mucus, especially in m., long – lasting swelling of glands on left side of neck; irregular evacuations, so that for several d. I had 2 to 3 stools daily, then afterwards suffered from constipation. One constant symptom I noticed, namely, frequent urging to stool, but without result; besides occasional appearance of drawing and paralytic pains in almost all joints, easily tired and inclined to sweat.
17e. On Nov. 18th I took 1/2 oz. of slat dissolved in a glass of water. About 3 p. m. violent pressive pain in sternum, along with sensation as if that place had been struck. This feeling was not increased by taking a deep breath, but certainly was by contact, and also by movement in open air. Towards evening it totally disappeared, but returned next m. and lasted till evening of 20th. On 21st I swallowed, an hours after breakfast, a whole ounce dissolved in water. Soon after, accumulation of salvia in mouth, with inclination to vomit; feeling of chilliness in whole body, with heat of forehead and pressure near root of nose; great thirst. In evening, itching and smarting on lower extremities, as after a mustard bath. 11 p. m., 5 or 6 violent shoots rapidly after each other in breast, crossing one another from without inwards with oppression of breathing. Next m. on waking paralytic pain, extending from nape of neck over shoulder as far as middle of arm, and continuing with short remissions till e. Extraordinary weakness of upper part of body, less in legs. In n. in urinating burning along whole of urethra, as after new not properly fermented beer. 22nd. – Pressive pain in sacrum, with desire to assume the erect posture. Toward evening in open air twitching pain in left temporal bone, which extended towards external canthus and ultimately spread over eyeball. Later, pressive pain in left knee – joint, rendering walking difficult. On 23rd and 24th no phenomena worthy of remark. 25th. – I took in afternoon again 1/2 oz. I noticed afterwards the following phenomena: – Pressure in region of stomach and forehead; pulsation in scrobiculus cordis; slightly drawing in left fibula. Frequent waking in n. On 26th, in afternoon, slight chilliness, and in evening burning heats in hands. 27th. – In course of forenoon twice shooting in region of spleen, increased by walking. 28th. – IN evening twitching – tearing in left eyeball; in abdomen feeling of burning, increased by pressure. 29th. – Thumb to left hand feels as if sprained, and often paralytic drawing with simultaneous obtuse shoots in os coccyges. In evening heat of head, with subsequent sweat. In n. feeling of burning in vertex; restless sleep. 30th, and Dec. 1st and 2nd. – No remarkable symptoms. 3rd. – In afternoon dulness of head, with great pressure in temporal bones and root of nose; sensation also as of reeling in brain, with fits of urging towards forehead, continuing till e. In n. these symptoms somewhat relaxed; returned, however, next day with renewed violence. 5th. – I felt for a few hours in forenoon quite well, yet about 11 the sensation of reeling and urging in brain towards front commenced so violently whilst I was walking down some steps that I was obliged to hold on by the handrail; at same time lower limbs trembled, and there was feeling as if feet were swollen and without sensation. This condition went off almost totally in 1/4 hours, but returned about 3 and 5 p. m., although in less degree. In evening, after previous feeling of anxiety, heat in whole body and sweat, which lasted 1 11/2 hours 6th. – Drawing pains in joints. At 6 p. m., again anxiety, with heat in head; afterwards great sweat. 7th. – Sweat recurred in evening at same hours 8th, 9th, and 10th. – No symptoms. Involuntary emission of a small quantity of urine. This symptom was repeated also on 13th in walking. Up to end of January of the next year morbid phenomena appeared, which I must ascribe to the action of salt. To these I add: prostration of whole body; easy inclination to sweat; constipation, and restless nights full of dreams. (Ibid.)
18. Dr. WAGNER confined his provings exclusively to 1st and 2nd trits. After 2 gr. of 2nd, which he took March 7th 1844, about 9 p. m. after having fasted since dinner, he dreamed after midnight of offensive things (especially of diseases) and slept uninterruptedly. Next m. his head was dull, heavy dizzy; he felt pressure in forehead, in temples pressing from within outwards. A sensation of heaviness and fatigue extended itself along posterior surface of thigh downwards towards bend of knee. At same item unusual urging to urinate, and on protracted retention of urine troublesome drawing along ureters and feeling of pressure and heaviness in left side of forehead. On following evening at 10 Wg – took 5 gr. of same trit. Next m. dulness of head and weakness of lower limbs, especially of knee – joints. These symptoms disappeared, however, towards noon. After taking 10 gr. of 1st trit., on 11th and 12th, no indications showed themselves excepting increased urging to urinate. Wg – now returned again to the small doses, and took on 13th 2 gr. of 2nd. The following n. he dreamt vividly and remembered them accurately next m. (which was unusual with him). Throughout day limbs were prostrated, chest heavy and oppressed; sometimes slight stitches dart out of depth of chest towards back (particularly in taking deep breath). For a few hours of the forenoon unpleasant pressure in scrobiculus cordis. When Wg – had rested five weeks he began a fresh experiment 20th April at 10 p. m. with 5 gr. of 3rd trit. During n. and following m. he remarked besides increased urging to urinate no phenomena. In forenoon whilst walking transient stitches, running deep through left half of forehead, spreading towards temple and ear, alternately with pressure and feeling of heaviness above orbital cavities. A few times peculiar pressure on posterior wall of larynx and pharynx, running along Eustachian tube and towards tonsils. Toward evening there gradually formed itself a pain in face which occupied whole of left side, particularly region of eyes, nose, and temple. Wg – closed his proving next evening (21st) with 10 gr. of same trit. Thereupon, about 1/2 hours after he was seized with peculiar feeling of heat, which spread itself from stomach at first over chest, later towards abdomen, but fixed itself particularly in region of navel. Besides this flying stitches, and fulness and heaviness in right hypochondrium; rumbling and feeling as of air – bubbles which ascend and burst in intestines increased urging to urinate, with very clear limpid urine. After midnight he awoke with considerable pressive pain in left half of forehead; subsequently profound sleep full of dreams. The following day unusual prostration, especially felt in thighs, arms, and shoulder – joints; periodical pressive shooting in brain. The whole of the above symptoms were relieved by walking. (Wg -, according to the character he has sketched of himself, is upwards of 29 years old, nervous venous constitution, with prominent bilious disposition, rigid fiber, strong muscular systems; for the most part healthy, deduction the diseases of children, up to the period of adolescence, subjected in later years especially to diseases of the nervous system (affections of the liver with great sensibility and easy excitability of the nervous system). Hardened in. his youth, he is not easily affected by physical influences, whilst moral ones act rapidly and continuously upon him. A chill, of instance, never induces a cough in him, but vexation very soon, and the cough bears then generally a violently spasmodic character. Further, he has the peculiarity of being affected in scarcely noticeable degree by powerful drugs, even poisons, with which he made formerly some experiments, while he offers a not inconsiderable; le impressionability to small doses of medicine, such as the homoeopathic potencies. He has also a particular idiosyncrasy toward s various things, for instance, strawberries, which always produce on eruption and nausea in him.) (Ibid.)
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.