2. From the yet more recent researches of Traube, Rosenthal, Krocker, Erlenmeyer, and Schroff may be derived the following resume:. N paralyses the brain, producing loss of consciousness and of voluntary movement, after a more or less brief interval of excitement. the primary action on the cord is exciting, and produces chronic and tonic convulsion, this is followed by paralysis, the cord becomes insensible to direct and to reflex irritation, apparently from affection of the grey matter of the anterior cornua. the motor nerve – trunks are but little affected, but their terminals in the muscular substance are at first strongly irritated and then paralysed. Small doses affect the heart in a double manner, the vagus branches being in comparison slightly, the cardiac motor nerves much more powerfully affected; the excitement is followed by paralysis. If the vagus be divided, N. nevertheless acts on the peripheral vagus – twigs, and the ganglionic apparatus in connection with them. the cardiac muscular structure does not appear to be directly affected. Respiration is at first quickened, and there may even be tetanus of the inspiratory muscular structure does not appear to be directly affected. Respiration is at first quickened, and there may even be tetanus of the inspiratory muscles; apparently this action is exerted upon the nerve termini among the muscles, for section of the vagi does not prevent it. the respiratory excitement is also is followed by paralysis. a very constant lowering of superficial temperature has been observed by Tscheschichin, which probably depends on rapid cooling of the body in consequence of vaso – motor paralysis. Intestinal peristalsis in hurried, and there may even be intestinal tetanic spasms, while in women there are vigorous contractions of uterus. / the action on the pupil has been much disputed, but the most recent and reliable researches seem to prove that N produces contraction of the circular fibres of the iris. (PHILLIPS, op. cit)
3. M. STAS, who had charge of the case forming II. i, made experiments with the N. found in stomach of the murdered man.
3 a.. The tongue of a skin was touched with a capillary – tube containing a minute quantity of the alkaloid. In a very short time the bird shook its head and fell into tetanic convulsions. It died in 2 m. 40 0 seconds, falling on to right side. In another similar experiment on a bird of this kind, the tetanus was immediate, and the death occurred in 30 seconds.
3 b.. A fraction of a drop was placed on the tongue of a vigorous pigeon. The convulsions came on after a few seconds, and death after 1 m. 15 seconds. (TARDIEU, op. cit)
4. Dr. Hobert Amory Hare has received the fiske Fund prize for an essay on “The Physiological and Pathological Effects of the Use of tobacco.” is conclusions are as follows: 11. Tobacco – smoking does not decrease the urine eliminated but rather increases it. 2. tobacco does retard tissue waste. 3. tobacco and its alkaloid cause convulsions in the primary stage of the poisoning by depressing the reflex inhibitory centres in the cord. 4. It causes palsy in the second stage, by paralysing (a) the motor nerve – trunks, (b) the motor tract of the spinal cord. 5. the sensory nerves are not affected by the drug. 6. Nicotine contracts the pupil, m by stimulating the oculo – motor and paralysing the sympathetic, this action being peripheral. 7. Nicotine, primarily, lowers the blood – pressure and pulse rate; secondarily, increases pressure and rate; thirdly, decreases pressure 8. The primary lowering of pressure and rate is due to pneumogastric stimulation, associated with vaso – motor dilatation. 9. the secondary stage is due to vaso – motor constriction and pneumogastric palsy. 10. the third stage is due to vaso – motor dilatation returning. 11. Death, in poisoning from this drug, is due to failure of respiration, the action of the drug being centric 12. The blood – corpuscles are broken up and created by the action of the poison. 13. In death from nicotine poisoning the blood shows changes in spectra. 14. Death can be brought about by the cutaneous absorption of nicotine. 15. Tobacco increases intestinal peristalsis in moderate amounts, and produces tetanoid intestinal spasms in 0poisonous doses. 16. the liver seems to destroy the poison, although this destruction is participated in by any set of capillaries in other parts of body. 17. tobacco – smoking increases the pulse – rate, and decreases arterial pressure. ( Therap. Gaz., Jan. 15th, 1886.).
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.