22b. The 3rd, 2nd, and 1st trits., prepared in the proportions of 1 of medicine to 99 of sugar of milk, and taken from 3 to 4 day m. and evening in doses of 10 gr., produced partly none, partly only very few symptoms; the 3rd trit. on 1st day induced delay of stool till evening, when a hard, scanty evacuation appeared after great discharge of flatus; on 2nd day constipation and frequent micturition. The Ist trit., on 2nd day, caused slimy taste in mouth, scraping in throat, and in evening an attack of tickling cough, which lasted almost 1/4 hour, and terminated with coughing up of tenacious mucus. Not much more productive was a seven days’ trial with the first trituration prepared in the proportion of 10: 90. On ist and 2nd day (after 55 gr. at 9 a. m.) he had towards evening a profuse, pappy, and 1/2 hours, later a fluid evacuation, although he had in m. his usual normal stool. On 2nd day he had, prior to the appearance of the fluid stool, cutting in hypogastrium. On 3rd and 4th day (after 55 gr. m. and e.) stool did not make its appearance; the appetite was considerably increased. On latter day in evening attack of tickling cough came on, which ended after 10 m. with coughing up of saltish phlegm. On 5th day (after a similar dose) the (scanty) evacuation was retarded until afternoon, and occurred only after much straining. In evening several attacks of tickling cough appeared. The same attacks were repeated in evening of the 6th day (after 110 gr. in m.). Tonsils, soft palate, and uvula greatly injected. The 7th day (after another 110 gr.) passed without any symptoms. A further trial of 3 day with the 1st trit. prepared in proportion of 1:5 was likewise without result
22c. WB – now proceeded to the proving of the raw material. He took of it on Nov. 10th, 11th, and 12th every m. 3j; from 13th – 18th 20th; 22nd 1/2 oz.. which he repeated on 25th, 26th, 27th, and 29th. The 30th he increased the dose to 3vj, and concluded on Dec. 1st with 1 oz. The salt for this purpose was on each occasion dissolved in water (4 tablespoonfuls to 1 drachm). These large doses enriched the sphere of action of salt by only a few symptoms. The results are comprised in the following: 10th. – Increased desire for food; sensation in left popliteal space as if tendons were too short, returning frequently in course of forenoon, most frequent in rising from a seat; in evening cutting in hypogastrium; frequent attacks by dry tickling cough; stoppage of nose; sneezing; frequent urination (also during n.). The latter phenomenon continued also the following day, 11th. After 2 a. m. he was frequently awakened out of sleep by vivid dreams. 12th. – Constipation; frequent micturition. The n. from 13th to 14th was sleepless from 2 o’clock. 14th. – The stool failed; following day was insufficient. the 16th was completely void of symptoms. The 17th he had again constipation. In n. prior to 18th he awoke about 3:30 and lay wide awake for an h. When he fell asleep after that he was tormented with anxious dreams. From 10th to 18th the sexual instinct was unusually active. The of the 20th created soon after their administration nausea, accumulation of water in mouth, vomiting of a watery fluid with subsequent great thirst, which first ceased after drinking much water. In course of day secretion of urine was diminished, stool constipated. Sleep was disturbed from 3 a. m. by vivid dreams and frequent awaking. He was also obliged during n. to rise once to micturate. 21st. – Frequent urination. The following n. the phenomena of the previous day; besides these, great sweat. 22nd. – After 1/2 oz. no stool for 2 day, then the 3rd day an insufficient stool, evening 25th. – Same dose caused constipation, frequent micturition, sensation of shortened tendon in hough, night’s rest broken by vivid dreams and frequent waking. Similar nocturnal disturbance occurred after same dose the following n. – 27th. M., a scanty stool; Àà
Poisonings
1/ A girl, aet. 18 1/2, of scrofulous constitution, had suffered till her 14th, year from various scrofulous affections, such as ophthalmia, tinea capitis and running ears. before the menses came at 17 she had a kind of chlorosis, pale face, nausea, anorexia, weakness and emaciation. The menses were for a long time of a morbid character, scanty, irregular, pale and watery. During that time, i. evening for 1 1/2 years, she had an insuperable desire to eat salt and sugar alternately and she often had voracious hunger for bread and fat things. From this time there appeared on her hand innumerable warts (she had previously only 2 or 3) so that not a pin’s head in size of the hands was free from them. She also had for a year slight attacks of spasms in the stomach which gradually increased and were accompanied by spasms in abdomen. She also grew thinner and paler. She only sought medical advice on Dec. 7th, 1832. She presented then the following symptoms, which correspond tolerably to symptoms of Natr. mur. recorded in Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases. Very Pale suffering appearance with sunken dull eyes surrounded by blue rings. On account of weakness she slips from one chair to another, but feels best when lying, which she does for several hours during d. Her countenance betrays the highest degree of sadness, crossness, irritation of disposition with tendency to anger and quarrelsomeness; she readily bursts out crying. Disinclination for work. She is vexed at having to answer questions. The circumference of her body has strikingly diminished. She has become thin. heat of mouth; heartburn, sour taste, loss of appetite, constant loathing, nausea, with flow of salvia into mouth. Feels as if a plug were sticking in her throat, with contraction. Sour and slimy vomiting, generally 2 hours after eating, followed by headache; after a meal immediately feeling of fulness and pressure in stomach with contraction; shooting and cutting in bowels; burning in abdomen from below upwards. Chill all over body after vomiting; great chilliness of back; tearing back from downwards, worst in afternoon. Menses irregular and scanty. Hands full of warts. For 2 months she was treated with nux vomica, ipecacuanha, veratrum album, bryonia, arsenicum and rhus tox., but in vain. On the 31st Jan. the antidote of Natr. m. sp. nitr. dulc., was commenced, and in 6 day almost all the morbid symptoms were gone. She regained her appetite and could retain food. All the warts dried off in a short time. She recovered her former good spirits and cheerfulness and became strong and blooming. (ENGELHARDT, Oest. Zeits. F. Hom., iv, 17.)
2. A big, thin, dark – complexioned man, aet. 32, complained of the following symptoms: – Loss of memory, so that he can with difficulty find the right word, forgetfulness, dazedness in forehead, and loss of ideas; want of sympathy, misanthropy, prefers to be alone, low spirits, sadness, fear of some serious illness, thought her is indifferent to life. Pressure and heaviness in occiput, worst after eating; weariness; heat in head when eating; pressure and heaviness of eyelids, so that he can with difficulty keep them open. Itching ulcers in nose; aching in right lower maxilla; yellow spots in face. Burning in tip of white furred tongue; white watery salvia accumulates in mouth when speaking; undefined toothache in afternoon. Itching eruption on scrob. cordis. Pressure in stomach after food; many flatulent sufferings; stool pappy, followed by exhaustion. Constant irritation in genitals. Intermittent heart – beats with anxiety, in afternoon. bruised feeling in sacrum, especially m., when standing or walking; lame feeling in sacrum; boring pressure in sacrum when sitting; prickling and formication of skin of sacrum. Tearing in bones, at one time of arms, at another of legs; slight tearing – drawing in hands and feet; prickling in tips of right fingers and in right big toe; falling asleep of hands and feet. Great exhaustion, especially m. Itching all over body in different places; dislike to cold air, chilliness in open air. The doctor though these symptoms had such a strong resemblance to those of Natr. m. that he prescribed that as a remedy. But as the patient became worse, he made inquiries and found that he was a great salt eater, so he gave sp. nitr. dulc. 2 dr. in a tablespoonful of water to be taken during the day by teaspoonful, and in 4 day the chief symptoms were gone. (NEUMANN, Ibid., 19.)
3. [In the 8th vol. of this journal (p. 435) is described a case of “purpura haemorrhagica,” which the present writer considers one of “scorbutus petechialis.” it was curious in that the patient bore venesection to a surprising extent. – 86 oz. of blood having been taken (independent of the haemorrhages) in 18 d; and that the blood had a thick and firm “buffy coat.” The writer goes on: -] “This copious appearance of coagulable lymph would, at one period of medical opinion, have been thought incompatible with so high a state of scurvy. But I have more with several cases of scorbutus petechialis similarly characterised, and unexpected to any of those causes which are generally considered as alone productive of this malady. In every one of these cases I discovered that the patients had indulged an inordinate inclination to common salt; and there is one expression in the case so well related by Dr. Jeffreys which inclines me to believe that the disease in his patient had a similar origin – ‘he craved much for his usual diet of salt beef. ‘…. I have no doubt that a free use of common salt during a certain length of time will be capable of scorbutising the system with the same certainty that mercury will produce salivation.” (SHERWEN, “Ed. Medorrhinum and Surg. journ., x, 44.)
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.