5. The root, the stalk, the leaves and the flowers when chewed cause a burning pain in tongue, also pain in teeth and gums. If the leaves or shoots are contused and applied to the lateral part of each finger they soon cause itching and blisters, which end in obstinate ulcers. Slices of the root applied to the internal aspect of each finger cause after 2 m. burning; if they are kept on longer the burning increases; if they are removed as soon as itching commences the skin appears slightly reddened and the itching ceases; after 2 hours the redness increases and it itches; within 10 hours there appears a blister, full of water, in size proportional to the space on which the plant was applied; on opening the blister a quantity of thin yellowish viscid serum escapes, and the place heals slowly; the resulting ulcer is painful, and its discharge becomes puriform. The nodules of the bulb if bruised and applied to the interstices of the fingers for 4 hours cause little itching; if the plant is then removed the skin is not found to be altered, but after 20 hours a blister appears, full of water. This only occurs if the nodules are taken before the time of flowering; after that they may be left on the skin for a whole day without producing any effect. If the bulbs are boiled, the vapour of the water is acrid and irritates the eyes. A decoction of the shoots when swallowed causes twitching of lips with roughness, and after 4 hours a similar twitching in stomach. The expressed juice causes after 2 m. violent smarting of the tongue, sneezing, excoriation of nostrils; 1/2 drm. of the juice mixed with 3viij water causes after 4 hours slight sinking in stomach, thereafter tightness and rigidity are felt in all the muscles; the urine is greatly increased. (KRAPF, Experim. de nonull. Ranuncul. ven. qual., 1766, p.68.).
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.