5. Same gave to a lady, aet. 30, nervous temp., health good, I gr. of 1st trit. at 10:20 a. m. In 1/2 hours felt strange, indescribable sensation throughout system. After dinner there came on heavy pain in back under left shoulder, which, after continuing severe for an hours, slowly passed away. At n. strange dizziness, had to hold on to bedstead to keep from falling. Next day whole frame seemed loosened and powerless; thoughts wandered, and she had difficulty in fixing attention. The strange indescribable feeling continued several day (Ibid.)
6. a. Dr. C. WESSELHOEFT, in good health, save for disposition to headache after irregularities in diet, &c., June 9th, 1865, took 1 gr. of 3rd trit. at 8:30 a. m. (, feeling of constriction around forehead and temples, changing into oppressive pain over left orbit, which extended to the other parts, very troublesome in reading. Sharp twinges in right instep, and various twinging pains about body, for 1/2 h. Slept well in n. Next day an attack of usual headache, but accompanied with extreme desire to sleep, which was unprecedented. Repeated dose on 11th at 7 a. m. Drowsiness all forenoon, even while driving, increased p. m. so that he slept soundly for 2 hours, though in uncomfortable position. Sleepiness continued for 1/2. after this, while walking. 10 p. m., took another gr., and slept well all n. (ordinarily a short nap in afternoon will spoil night’s rest). Woke at 6 a. m., and felt bright for 2 hours, when he became sleepy again while driving, with dull pressure encircling head, and dull weight along vertex, mostly 1. After a light dinner, drowsiness became irresistible, and he slept some time. 12th, 3 p. m., another gr. Went to bed early and slept well; drowsy all next day, until 2 hours work in garden had caused profuse perspiration; this dispelled drowsiness in part, but he felt it slightly the day after. 19th. – Took 1 gr. at 10 a. m. and 10 p. m., and same next m., with no perceptible effect.
6b. 25th – Took 1 gr. of 1st trit. at 10 a. m., and repeated dose n. and m. till 28th. After taking first dose, feeling of constriction around entire top of head, as if a tight cap were being pressed down as far as temples; at same time severe pressure along sagittal suture, as if from fulness in longitudinal sinus, and dull aching in each temple. Similar effects occurred each n. and m. about 15 m. after dose. For two mornings he was sleepy while riding; did not feel usual flow of spirits, and conversed with effort. After dinner great drowsiness, which was very difficult to shake off; desire for sleep was uncontrollable, and he fell off to sleep so quickly that he was surprised, on waking, to find he had slept. Hard exercise would remove this drowsiness. He slept as well at n. as if he had not done so in afternoon. After last dose he felt pressing from within outwards in vertex and temples, which lasted 5 hours (Ibid.)
7. Same gave 6 similar doses to 3 ladies. 7a. Mrs. P -, aet.49, catamenia for 2 years irregular and profuse, reports: – “June 16th, 1865, took I gr. at bedtime. At 3 a. m. 10 – 12 sharp darts of pain through right thumb, at root of nail, and several weaker ones through right finger – joints. For rest of n. dragging pain on left hip towards back. I slept, but was conscious of pain; in m. awoke free from it. Took the medicine at 11 a. m.; 2, dull, heavy pain over left hip, extending to back, which continued through afternoon and evening, with bearing down, as if courses would set in. Took 3rd dose at bedtime, pain diminished gradually in n., and I slept soundly. After 5th powder I felt irresistible drowsiness for a week, especially up to 2 p. m.” Menses did not come on till 30th.
7b. Miss H. C -, aet.42, in good health, but had menses twice only last year, and is a very heavy sleeper. She reports: – ‘From 1st powder Perceived nothing unusual, save slight momentary pains in various parts a few m. after. Later, a short attack of vomiting and diarrhoea. From 2nd nothing. From 3rd, slight twinging pains in lower limbs. From 4th same, especially sharp in ankle. A former pain in right hypogastrium, which had now been absent for 2 years, returned more troublesome than it usually had been. No further symptoms.”
7c. Mrs. N -, aet. 40, health perfect. “Six hours after 1st powder felt drawing rheumatic pains through left shoulder. After 3rd, very unusual feeling, – drawing pain low in back and abdomen, with bearing down, as if menses were coming, though it was a week before time. After 4 hours all passed off, and menses came at right time.” During whole time of proving felt heavy and dull in head. (Ibid.)
8. a. Dr. H.B. CLARKE, aet.38, health good, proved 1st trit. June 20th, at 8:30 p. m., took 1 gr.; next m. sense of distension of abdomen, with soreness. 21st. – At 7 a. m., fasting 1 gr. After 15 m., feeling of weakness passed down from occiput through back to lower extremities; feeling in legs was like that known as being “asleep”. During fore part of day (which was sultry) he had at times a feeling of weakness, though there was uncommon mental activity. 22nd. – Took 3 gr. at 7:30 a. m. In 15 m. feeling in legs like that of yesterday, but sensation was less perceptible in back. (In evening colicky pains with copious loose discharge from bowels. As this did not recur, Dr. C – is doubtful whether to ascribe it to drug.)
8b. Five gr. on July 3rd, and 10 gr. on 11th were without effect. On 13th took 3 gr. at 8 a. m., fasting (last 2 doses had been taken later). Immediately, sensation as on June 21st, and slight exertion caused lameness and weakness in small of back. (Ibid.)
9. Dr. WILLIAM P. WESSELHOEFT gave to a lady, aet. 35, “of a very sensitive temperament,” one dose of the 3rd trit. Symptoms came on immediately and continued for 17 day, when they seemed still in full force, though the narrative then stops abruptly. They are all subjective, and can best be presented in the prover’s own resume: – “The chief action of this medicine seems to me to be on the nerves; all the other symptoms have been entirely accessory and secondary. And it seems to me, so far as I can judge, to have a very curious double action on the nervous system. The nerves in front of the body it appears to excite to an involuntary motion, causing tremblings going up and down in wave – like motion. But the nerves at the back of the body it seems to paralyse and numb, and during this numbing process it causes a good deal of pain, very similar to the pain in a tooth when its nerve is dying or being killed.” (Trans. of Amer. Inst. of Hom., 1874.)
10. Dr. W. E.PAYNE, aet. 58, health good, took, Feb. 12th, 1874, 10 gr. of 30th trit. at 7 a. m. 12, general sense of great fatigue, as from long – continued labour, with fulness in forehead and tendency to ache, especially on right side; face hot, flushed and suffused, with feeling as if change into a lower temperature would produce a chill; appetite not so good as usual, with occasional nausea. Above symptoms continued during afternoon. 8 p. m., shooting pains in left iliac region; a few thrusts with aching sensation down thigh of same side; dull heavy ache still in forehead, more on right 9, feeling as if undigested food were lying in stomach; smarting and tingling in nose, as if cold were coming on, with several sneezings; aching in wrist – and hand joints, also in knees. Had comfortable n. and felt well next m. 13th, 7:45 a. m., took 20 gr. of same, and breakfasted an hours later. 9, breathless sensation at pit of stomach, with hard feeling as of undigested food, disposition to make deep inspirations, coming and going momentarily; deep – seated pain in head all day, aggravated by making a heavy or missed step, as if the brain were bruised; fierce pains in right lower jaw. Good n. 14th. – Took 20 gr. at 8 a. m. An hours later breathless feeling returned, with same sensation at pit of stomach; undefinable pain in right head, continuing same throughout d. Above symptoms passed away, and no more medicine was taken till 17th, when at 7:30 a. m. he took 20 gr. more. 11:30, dull, heavy, bruise – like pain in whole brain but rather more severe in left temple, with sensation of general fatigue, continuing throughout day till evening, together with general sensitiveness to cold or change of temperature. 6 p. m., a constrictive pain suddenly seized left arm, extending around just above elbow. An hours later, similar pain round left leg just above ankle. Both were transient. 7:30, shooting pain under left knee in or near popliteal space, returning again and again, as did pain above left ankle. On following day symptoms had greatly abated, though still of same character. (Ibid.)
11. Same gave to a married lady, aet. 35, 10 gr. of 30th trit. She had sharp pains, first in left head and upper extremity, then in r. Their severity frightened here, and she declined to continue the proving. On following day she felt a hard pain in stomach (Ibid.)
12. a. GALE ALLEN, medical student, in good health, took 20 gr. of triturated bean, March 11th, 1876, at 7:30 a. m. 7:45, sensation as of rush of blood to frontal and temporal regions. 8:30, slight nausea; weight in stomach, as from undigested food; giddiness; sensation as if brain were loose and rolling about in skull. 9, pulse variable, full and strong; heavy pain in frontal region, worse from motion. 10:30, burning sensation in stomach, with hot eructations; slight nausea continues. 11:30, darting pains in epigastric region. 12, griping pain in pit of stomach. 1 p. m., last – named and nausea still continue, with giddiness. 2, darting pains in head; stomach still disturbed, and nausea. 3:30, griping in epigastrium continues, also darting pains in temples, worse from motion. 4:45, headache still; giddiness; nausea; cold feeling all the time. 6, still griping, with soreness to pressure; dull pain and disagreeable confused feeling in head, worse from motion. 12th. – Has felt epigastric pain all the time, except when asleep; sore and still all over, as if he had taken a severe cold; seemingly rheumatic pains in left neck and shoulder (which he took aconite to relieve).
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.