b. This was patient’s statement. Reporter witnessed an attack of the kind, brought on by 2 small doses of paregoric. Vomiting was troublesome for a few h. Desquamation of cuticle began, as in scarlet fever, about end of 5th day; and during convalescence she was at one time threatened with anasarca. (It was for a teasing cough, remaining after bronchitis, that she took the paregoric.) (Dubl. Medorrhinum Press, xlix, 319. 1863. A similar case, in an old lady, is reported at p. 489 of same volume.)
7. a. The first effect of O. on the Chinese smokers of the drug is to render them more loquacious and animated. Gradually the conversation drops, laughter is occasionally produced by the most trifling causes, and to these effects succeed vacancy of countenance, pallor, shrinking of the features, so that the smokers resemble people convalescing from fever, followed by deep sleep for 1/2 hours – 3 or 4 h. An inordinate quantity causes headache, vertigo, and nausea. The Malays are rendered outrageous and quarrelsome by the O. pipe.
b. The continuance of this destructive practice deteriorates the physical constitution and moral character of the individual, especially among the lower classes. Its powerful effects on the system are manifested by stupor, forgetfulness, impairment of the mental faculties, emaciation, debility, sallow complexion, lividity of lips and eyelids, languor and lack – lustre of the eye, appetite either destroyed or depraved, – sweetmeats of sugar – cane being the articles that are most relished. “In the m. these creatures have a most wretched appearance, evincing no symptoms of being refreshed or invigorated by sleep, however profound. There is a remarkable dryness of burning in the throat, which urges them to repeat the O. smoking. If the dose be not taken at the usual time there is great prostration, vertigo, torpor, lachrymation, and in some an involuntary discharge of semen even when wide awake. If the privation be complete a still more formidable train of phenomena appears. Coldness is felt over the whole body, with aching pains in all parts. Diarrhoea occurs; the most horrid feelings of wretchedness come on, and, if the poison be withheld, death terminates the victim’s existence.” The offspring of O. smokers are weak, stunted, and decrepit. (SMITH, of Penang, Lancet, Feb. 19th, 1842.)
8. HILL witnessed O. smoking in the person of a Chinese soldier, aet. 24. He took 8 whiffs before going to sleep. After the 2nd, the eyes became full and sparkling, the face began to flush, and the pulse to increase in quickness and fulness; the breathing likewise became more frequent, and the whole system seemed considerably excited. These symptoms continued to increase until the 7th application to the pot of O. (1/4 hours), at which time the pulse was 120, full and bounding. After the next two applications (5 m. more) he appeared quite stupefied by the drug, and lying down on the couch instantly fell asleep. He was allowed to wake of his own accord, which he did in about 3 h. Considerably depression now seemed to have followed the previous excitement, the eyes, though still full and projecting, being dull and heavy, and the whole countenance having a languid and stupid expression. The breathing was likewise heavy and oppressed, and the pulse considerably below the natural standard, scarcely 60. (Lancet, 1840 – 2, i, 820.)
9. The effects of the O. fumes when inhaled are far more exhilarating and immediate, as well as more transient, then when the drug is taken into the stomach. The pulse vibrates, it becomes fuller and firmer; the face glows, the eyes sparkle, the temperature of the skin is elevated, and it becomes suffused with a blush; the organs of sense are exquisitely sensitive; perspiration flows profusely; respiration becomes quicker; the action of the heart is increased; the nervous energy is exalted, and a glow of warmth, and sensations similar to those which often attend highly pleasurable and agreeable feelings, overspread the body. The mind shares in the general exhilaration, and is filled with those delicious and brilliant ideas which follow the other modes of employing O.; but if the smoking is too long protracted, these pleasing feelings vanish. All control of the will, the functions of sensation and volition, as well as reason, are suspended; vertigo, coma, irregular muscular contractions, and sometimes temporary insanity, supervene. (Mc PHERSON, Two Years in China, quoted by Stille.)
10. a. Mr. LITTLE describes the mode, &c., of smoking at Singapore in terms nearly the same as those we have quoted from Dr. McPherson, adding that, after the effect of the stimulant has passed off, a state of languor, listlessness, and incapability of exertion succeeds, together with loathing of food, nervousness, aching of the limbs, gloom, and indefinable wretchedness, a state from which the smoker has no relief until the period comes round for renewed indulgence in the gratification which led to it, and which again infallibly induces it.
b. He also draws a frightful picture of the derangement of the nervous system and of the digestion, the oppressed breathing, and hazy, bleared eyes of the devotees of this vice. The sexual organs lose their power, and are affected with a gleety discharge; the flesh withers, and the bones are racked with pains. The stooping figure shuffling gait, drooping eyebrows, and dull eyes surrounded by a livid circle, give an appearance of premature decrepitude. In both sexes the procreative power is lessened, and in females the secretion of milk is defective. Ultimately, the stomach is the seat of an incessant gnawing pain, the food is vomited, diarrhoea comes on, the urine is turbid, and Bright’s disease is not uncommon. (Ibid.)
11. Dr. LIBERMANN, who was a medical officer at the capture of Pekin by the English and French, has furnished a picture of the effects of this vice, which corresponds exactly to what has now been presented; but he adds some touches which were wanting to complete it, by describing the state of chronic delirium into which the O. smoker ultimately falls. The wretched man is assailed by the most various hallucination, s but all very unlike the voluptuous visions which he enjoyed on his first dalliance with the poison. The most digesting objects and the most scenes are perpetually before him, but most of all at night, when he in vain seeks regauge from his misery in sleep. He is haunted by spectral toads and all manner of obscene animals, or a fiery dragon swoops around and drags him into a flaming pit. Sometimes he endures all the tortures of the Buddhist hell; or, fancying himself one moment in voluptuous embraces, the next he finds within his arms the mangled limbs of a hideous monster. These images, which, we are assured, are literal copies of the O. eater’s phantasms, present a vivid resembles to the more familiar spectral illusions of delirium tremens. (Ibid.)
12. A young man who has a mind to accustom himself to the immoderate use of opium is initiated in the following way: – His master first gives him some grains of this juice in wine or brandy, and then a quantity of the later to drink after it, till a heavy fit of drunkenness deprives him of all sensibility and throws him into a deep sleep. After 7 or 8 hours he is roused by shaking, however much the overpowering effect of the fetters him, and has to drink a great deal of cold water. But each cup he throws up with vomiting, nausea, and retching, and with eyes full of eyes full of tears stares at the bystanders without recognising them, or knowing what passes before him. At last they give him warm wine with nutmeg. Now he no longer vomits, but, sleep and unconscious, yawns often, and by this time sleep threatens to overpower him again, when they give him a second but doubled dose of O. Laughing, crying out, dancing, noisy music keeps our scholar of some hours in a state of utter unconsciousness. He wants to talk, but the organs of speech remain immovable, though his mouth is open. He goes through a number of silly actions, which excite the laughter of the bystanders, e.g. he stretches out his arm to reach the guitar, and at the same instant forgets to take hold of it or to draw his arm back, and the like, until, at last he falls to sleep smiling. After 4 hours rest, the sleeper is again awakened and doused with cold water, his eyes washed with vinegar, and every possible art employed to drive away sleep. They drag him out of bed, force him to walk, but hardly will his stumbling feet obey, until they are at last with some trouble put in some sort of motion. The scholar stammers out some half – intelligible words, and complains that he is cold; they give him warm wine, he finds himself better, and longs to eat, but hardly has he swallowed a few morsels, after tedious chewing, when hunger and appetite flee away. He wishes to sleep, to which, however, he is not left till within a few hours before the expiration of the period, which is reckoned from the last dose of opium. Scarcely has he rested these few hours when he is awakened forcibly and obliged to take again the same quantity of opium, whereupon he is again treated as before. Thus the system is day by day accustomed to this medicine, and already between the 18th and 11th day the scholar feels the desired effect of the previous treatment; he goes about, it is true, with a swollen face and bloodshot eyes, but his very peculiar significant look testifies to an inward happy feeling of a quiet state. But this joy is not lasting; when the effect of the opium fails again, which with beginners is usually the case in 24 hours, he feels great anxiety, restlessness, frightful images all around, shivering, and nausea, which do not pass off till he has taken another dose of opium. Then these sufferings cease, and a quiet, agreeable intoxication sets in for 10 or 12 m., and ends with the liveliest imagination of the very ideas which the opium – eater wished to experience. If, for instance, he sets his heart upon anger, he becomes passionate even to fury, and is capable of no other idea then this. He sees not the danger into which he blindly rushes at all risks, and even the person whom he attacks in his terrific rage. On the other hand, if he wishes to give himself up to amiable, gentle feelings, he stays quiet, smiles with internal contentment, seeks to testify of his happiness in perfect silence to those around; until after the intoxication has evaporated he leaves off dreaming, returns to humanity, and goes about his business in tranquillity. Still he feels a certain timidity, becomes forgetful, incapable of any of the finer feelings, and for ever indifferent to pain and pleasure. The oesophagus requires continually larger quantities, and at shorter intervals. Afterwards 1 oz. is hardly enough for the day, and now he becomes dull, and in this state of apathy in every sense extremely miserable, sleep flies from him, no dream in the slightest degree recalls the memory of former enjoyment; the opium itself becomes disgusting to him, and yet a state which is otherwise intolerable and dangerous compels him to the frequent use of it, and he never dares, for fear of his life, leaves off while he lives. His figure becomes quite deformed, his face swollen, with its muscles immovable and hanging quite flaccid, his eyes bleared, his whole body feeble and collapsed, as his bones refuse their sufficient support. He is always chilly, rolls himself into all warm places, baths, and hearths; being incapable of rational ideas he forgets decency, and becomes an abhorrence to all men, until at last dropsy pours an end to his misery. (REINEGGS, Blumenbach’s Medorrhinum Bibl., ii. 1785.)
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.