Introduction
Including R acris, bulbosus, and sceleratus, L. Nat. Ord., Ranunculaceae. Buttercup, upright meadow crowfoot.
Provings
1. LEMBKE took, Sept. 6, p. m., 30 dr. aq. herbae Ranunculus acris, and again at 9:30, 30 dr. Persistent scraping taste in throat from each dose. At 10:30 p. m. 1 teaspoonful. – 7th. 9 a. m., 1 teaspoonful, and the same at 4 p. m. – 8th. 8 a. m., 1 teaspoonful, and the same at 9 a. m. Yesterday and to – day wandering pains in limbs, also in joints of hands, knees, feet and toes, heat in head, tearing in forehead and face, 2 loose stools m. 7 p. m., 9:30 p. m., and 10:30 p. m., 1 teaspoonful. When walking, repeated heaviness and weakness of lower limbs, also on 9th, m., in bed. In n. of 9th Sept. urinated several times. – 9th. Repeated tearing in left ankle – joint when walking and when at rest. – 13th, 8 a. m., 1 teaspoonful. Tearing in wrists and ankle – joints, in thumb and forehead. 5 p. m., copious liquid stool without pain, and again at 7 p. m. In evening tearing in right cheek to temple. – 14th, 7 p. m., 1 teaspoonful. 8 p. m., 1 teaspoonful. Tearing in right pectoral muscles below nipple, increased by inspiration, boring in forehead, drawing in right tibia and elbow, much eructation of tasteless air, nausea, drawing in ankle – joints, head hot and heavy, forehead moist. 9 p. m., 1 teaspoonful. Nausea and much saliva in mouth. In skin of right cheek a peculiar sensation as if it were touched here and there by a cold thin body, lasting some time, and then a similar sensation in left cheek. Pressure in elbows, ankles, and knees when sitting, relieved by moving. Urinated 3 times at n. – 15th. 8 a. m., skin moist, tearing in tibiae and temples. Pain in right side of chest as yesterday. – 16th. Tearing in hip, shoulders, and ankle – joints. 7 and 8 p. m., 1 teaspoonful. Severe nausea. In lumbar muscles when bending body and turning, pain several times, also in joints named. – 17th., m., same pains several times during day when sitting and when moving. 18th, 9 a. m., 2 teaspoonfuls. Tearing in wrists, ankles, and shoulders, in forehead and in right pectoral muscles. (N. Zeitsch. f. hom. kl., xii, 26.).
Poisonings
1. Applied to the temple, it has caused headache, intolerable heat, and fainting. Applied to the joints, soreness and obstinate ulcers. (Archiv, vii, 3,218.)
2. A robust woman, aet. 70, who suffered from pains in limbs, boiled a few handfuls of right a., washed her legs with the decoction, and applied the boiled plant as a cataplasm, e. At n. woke up with violent pains, removed the poultice, and washed herself with water. Next m. the doctor found her with violent erethic fever, intolerable pains in legs and feet, which appeared as if burnt up to knees. Skin hot, red, very painful, and in parts raised up in blisters. On 3rd day mortification had set in in several parts, she trembled, fainted on rising up; anxiety, restlessness, with small rapid pulse and red face. On the 11th day there was fever and sweat, with critical urine, and the sores improved. (KREES, Medorrhinum Annalen, Heidelberg, i. pt. 3, p.440, in Frank’s Mag., iii,312.).
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.