Introduction
Balfour. Calabar bean. Nat. Ord., Leguminosae.
Provings
1. Dr. CHRISTISON ate 1/8 of a bean one afternoon. It produced only a slight pleasant feeling of numbness in limbs, like that which precedes the sleep of opium or morphia, and which he remarked when awake for a m. twice or thrice during n. “On getting up in m., I carefully chewed and swallowed twice as much, viz. 1/4 of a seed (which originally weighed 48 gr.). A slight giddiness, which occurred in 15 m., was ascribed to imagination, and I proceeded to take a warm shower – bath, – which process, with the subsequent scrubbing, might take up 5 or 6 m. more. The giddiness was then very decided, and was attended with the peculiar indescribable torpidity over the whole frame which attends the action of opium and Indian hemp in medicinal doses. Being now quite satisfied that I had got hold of a very energetic poison, I took immediate means of getting quit of it, by swallowing the shaving water I had just been using, by which the stomach was effectually emptied. Nevertheless, I presently became so giddy, weak, and faint, that I was glad to lie down spine in bed. The faintness continuing great, but without any uneasy feeling, I sent for medical aid. Dr. Simpson reached me within 40 m. of my taking the dose, and found me very prostrate and pale, heart and pulse extremely feeble and tumultuously irregular, – my condition altogether very like that induced by profuse flooding after delivery: my mental faculties, however, were quite entire, and my only sensation one of extreme but not unpleasant faintness. Dr. Simpson went to fetch Dr. Maclagan, returning with him in a few m. During his absence, feeling sick, I tried to raise myself on my elbow to vomit, but failed. I made a second and more vigorous effort, but scarcely moved. At once it struck me, ‘This is not debility, but volition is inoperative. ‘ In a third effort I was more nearly successful; and in the fourth, by resolute exercise of the will, I did succeed. But I could not vomit; the abdominal muscles acted too feebly, nor were they much aided by voluntary effort to make them act. I then gave up the attempt; and at the same time the sickness ceased, and it never returned. There were now slight twitches across the pectoral muscles; and I also felt a sluggishness of articulation. Dr Maclagan, on his arrival, thought my state very like the effects of an overdose of aconite; pulse and heart’s action very feeble, prostration great, but mental faculties unimpaired. I had then no uneasy feeling of any kind; but presently my limbs became chill, with a vague feeling of discomfort. Warmth to the feet soon relieved this, and a sinapism over the whole abdomen was peculiarly grateful when it began to act. Soon afterwards pulse improved in volume, but not in regularity. I was now able to turn in bed, and happening to get upon the left side, my attention was, for the first time, directed to the extremely tumultuous action of the heart, which compelled me to turn again on the back to escape the strange sensation. Two hours after taking the drug I became drowsy, and slept for 2 hours more; but the mind was so active all the while, that I was not conscious of having been asleep. On waking, the tumultuous action of the heart continued. In an hours more, however, I took a cup of strong coffee; after which I speedily felt an undefinable change within me, and on examining the condition of the heart, I found it had become perfectly regular. For the rest of the forenoon I felt too weak to care to leave my bed; and on getting up, after a tolerable dinner, I was so giddy as to be glad to betake myself to the sofa for the e. Next m., after a sound sleep, I was quite well. ” (Pharm. journ., xiv, 474. 1855.)
2a. I ate 6 gr. of finely powdered kernel 2 hours after taking food. Pulse during previous 15 m. was found to average 68. In 6 m. it rose to 74, but thence fell gradually, till in 60 m. it was 62 only, and rather feeble. At 19 m. there was peculiar feeling in epigastrium, which recurred at 40 m. At 50 m. slight giddiness was felt, and epigastric sensation was much increased; it now resembled the somewhat painful sensation which is produced when large pieces of food are suddenly swallowed; it recurred at intervals, at first slightly indicated by sensation in thorax, near upper sternum, which extends downwards, becoming more and more intense till it reaches epigastrium, when it is almost painful; then eructations of gas occur, and this is followed by a reversal of the direction of the pain till it ends above. 60 m., dimness of vision and giddiness, which at 65 m. had increased, with a little perspiration. 70 m., pulse 60, very small and wiry, but regular; nausea. 75 m., copious perspiration all body; unable to continue reading, especially because of dizziness; slight difficulty in walking. 80 m., pulse 60, thready, and difficult to count. 90 m., pulse 58; slight dyspnoea. 95 m., pulse, 59 very feeble, with occasional intermissions. 100 m., pulse 56; eructations without the epigastric sensation, considerable nausea, and dizziness. 110 m., great difficulty in walking; breathing requires an effort. Pulse continued same till 130 m., when it was 60 and rather fuller. At 140 m. felt sick and went to bed; was conscious of having remained awake for some time, in a dreamy state. Next m., felt uncomfortable, had bad appetite, and experienced some dizziness during d.
2b. Took 8 gr. with similar results. At 20 m. a dumb – bell previously used with ease, was found a great burden; the arm was with difficulty extended with it, and a steady erect position retained. At 80 m. pulse was as low as 54.
2c. Took 10 gr. Epigastric sensation came on violently at 3 m., and muscular weakness was experienced at 10 m. There was no change in pulse till 20 m., when it began to diminish in frequency and strength. General lassitude and dizziness, had to stop reading; pulse soon afterwards could not be counted. In walking downstairs, great dizziness and dimness of vision; progression and gait very unsteady; encountered wall and handrail more than once on the way out.
2d. Pulse averaging 70, took 10 m. of tinct. in water. In 5 m. pulse 76, and epigastric sensation. In 1 hours pulse 63, thready and feeble; in 1.1/2 hours 54. It continued 52 – 60 for 1 hours longer. (FRASER, Edinb, Medorrhinum journ, 1863).
3a. Dr. H. L. CHASE, in good health, took Jan. 5th, 1865, at 11 a. m., 1 right of 1st trit. In 15 m. sensation of contraction of lids, with difficulty in opening them, and gush of tears when they were opened wide. In 1/2 hours dizziness and sense of wavering in brain, while walking. Dryness and smarting of tip of tongue and lips all day 6th. – at 9 a. m. I gr. Tongue as yesterday. At 10 a. m. sense of contraction of whole left face, with slight numbness; effort required to keep left eyelid open. This lasted till n., with occasional severe pain in right upper jaw, like toothache, although all teeth on that side had been extracted.
3b. Proving was suspended till June 12th, when, at 4 p. m., he took 3 gr. of same. Within 15 m., same numbness, tingling, and smarting of lips and tongue occurred, with constant desire to moisten them. There was pain in side of jaw where there were teeth. Wavering in brain not so marked as before. 14th, 11 a. m.,2 gr. Same symptoms of tongue; there was also sense of contraction in alae nasi and upper lip, with frequent desire to rub them, lasting about 20 m. Then came deep – seated pain in forehead, with desire to rub it; dizziness in walking, effort of will being required to keep from staggering, sharp darting pain in right elbow, extending down outer arm to 2 middle fingers; numb pain in knees and ankles while sitting, with desire to move frequently. 15th. – Took 3 gr. at 6 a. m. Tongue, after 20 m., as if scalded; severe pressing pain in forehead, as though something hard was bound tightly on it, accompanied by dizziness while walking, – this lasted all forenoon, gradually subsiding; occasionally severe sharp darting pain in right malar bone and in ramus of right jaw. Limbs felt weary, as after great fatigue, with constant desire to move; difficulty in concentrating thought; itching of left palm. 16th. – No medicine, still some scalding sensation on left side of tongue; occasional sharp pains in various parts. 17th. – 3 gr. Nothing save tongue symptoms. 18th. – 4 gr. at 10 a. m. and 3 p. m. At 4 severe cramp – like pain in left popliteal space, making walking very painful, lasting 2 hours, then gradually passing of; during rest pain ceased, commenced again on motion, by continued motion relieved. Scalding of tongue continued 2 day longer, though surface looked well. Took several doses later, without additional symptoms. (Publ. of Mass Hom. Medorrhinum Soc., ii. 457.)
4. Dr. CULLIS, June 29th, 1865, at 10 p. m., took 2 gr. of 1st trit. In 5 m. felt as if he had drunk a glass of liquor; head was confused, there was vertigo, and legs lost their strength. He staggered like a drunken man, and went to bed with head swimming; fell asleep, but awoke repeatedly during n. with terrible thoughts; he feared he was becoming crazy, and that he might get up and do some mischief; dreamed he was a lion. At 4 he rose with soreness in left abdomen, which was painful on pressure. At 8 head felt clear, but soreness in bowels continued, becoming pain on moving about, and aggravated by riding; it covered a spot as large as the palm, and continued 5 d. A small boil then appeared inside right nostril, very painful; pain extending up to eye and right side of head; it broke on 4th day, with but little discharge. (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.