3b. Oct. 12th, 1869. – Passed a swamp wherein Rh. v. grows, the sun shining quite warmly at the time; had frequently passed the same swamp before taking the drug without observing any effects; this evening had considerable itching of penis and scrotum. 13th. – Passed restless n., lying awake to scratch; lips feel uncomfortable; in m. lips are much swollen; breath is hot and feverish, almost like steam and tongue covered with little vesicles on tip; intense itching of genital organs. 12 m., itching continues unaltered; warm water ameliorates; fine eruption around neck of penis; intolerable burning and itching of whole genital organs; intense heat of penis, especially on glans; lips swollen; breath hot. 7 p. m., itching on genitals becomes unbearable, relieved by warm water cloths applied to parts, after an hour’s constant application the itching almost entirely disappears, the water has to be changed frequently and can be borne up to boiling heat; prepuce considerably swollen; back becomes covered with blotches; itching is excited or brought on by exposure to cold air; gentle scratching relieves the burning and itching on back; latter the blotches disappear, back becomes covered with ridges, and a fine, pale – red rash appears. 14th. – Itching occasionally on penis and scrotum through night; itching on back is brought on in a moment by cold air blowing on it; prepuce very much swollen, as also glans penis; desire for an embrace, but the itching and burning is so severe that he cannot complete the act; his wife complains of a terrible prickling and burning in vagina after coition, lasting several m.; face much swollen, shining glistening appearance; lips peeling off; nose itches severely; vesicles on lips and face emitting an odour similar to a sore (same as on Aug. 16th); desire to rub face continually; hot water relieves, and causes peeling of the skin; general health good; appetite fair; stools and urine normal; pulse 78, and regular; tongue redder than usual; breath hot, but not unpleasant or offensive. 15th. – Abatement of all the symptoms. 16th – 25th. – Symptoms become lighter and pass entirely away.
3c. Next summer, in passing a swamp where some Rh. v. grew, became again poisoned; symptoms were similar to those in 3 b, but not quite as violent. In June, 1871, in preparing some of the tinct. touched his finger accidentally to the cork of the vial. Next day was completely poisoned, and the symptoms ran a course similar to that of the first proving, the itching being worse on the hands, genitals, anus, lips, mouth, and nose; hot water afforded great relief, and clematis erecta cut the disease short, but did not prevent the skin peeling off the hands. In preparing some of this medicine for some provers, in 2nd and 3rd attenuation, became again affected in a manner like that described before.
In all the provings the itching was worst on the cuticle and mucous membrane; hot water always relieved the itching; appetite good, more so than usual; dyspeptic troubles, or belchings after meals, very much better; the catarrhal trouble was less also. Pulsatilla, croton tiglium, rhus toxicodendron and clematis erecta were taken as antidotes during the later provings, but the last – named seemed to exert the most beneficial effect. Previous to proving or taking this remedy, was never subject to Rhus poisoning; could pull up the Rhus radicans and others poisonous vines without observing any effect, but now is very susceptible to their influence, and poisons very readily. (Hahn. Monthly, vii, 315.)
4. Aug. 12th, 1869, Miss F -, aet. 22, took 2 dr. of tinct.; next day slight itching of hands and lips; 2nd day, itching of hands and body as well as face; face swollen; eruption on corner of mouth; became alarmed, and took no more of the medicine, and did not record any other symptoms. (Ibid.)
5. Miss L. H. G -, aet. 18, sanguine temperament, took 3 dr. of 1st dil., Oct. 26th, 1871. 27th. – Pain at umbilicus, with diarrhoea; creeping sensation on face and arm; itching of face in evening, particularly lips. 28th. – Pain in bowels, with diarrhoea; itching of upper lip; stretching and tired feeling; blue finger – nails; skin feels cold, similar to the way some persons describe their feelings when they have a chill, lasting one hours; has not had a chill. 29th. – Low spirits; itching of face and lips, and somewhat of fingers and lower limbs; chilly, creeping sensation over scalp. 30th. – Drawing pain in lower part of left side; considerably headache; itching of face, particularly nose, and some on lower limbs; a little pain in sacrum. 31st. – Symptoms slight; some itching of lips and lower limbs, with slight frontal headache. Nov. 1st. – Slight lancinating pain in sternum and right leg; fever – sore on mouth. (Ibid.)
6a. KUNZE, Dec. 1st, 9 p. m., took 20 dr. 5x dil. Next m. drawing pressive pains in right knee – joint, radiating downwards, then in right wrist, extending through bones of forearm of elbow; the same pains in left elbow, left ankle, and pas anserines. – 2nd, 7 a. m., 30 dr. Drawing in left knee and right upper row of teeth; paralytic and bruised pain in thighs; peculiar feeling of tension, with noise like creaking, under right ankle; frequent ringing in right ear; drawing pain towards left temple; whirling vertigo; stitches in heart. – 3rd, 5 p. m., 40 dr. Drawing squeezing pain in left thigh, dorsum of right foot, right upper and lower maxillae, drawing in left temple. The pains come and go quickly, wander to and fro; eructation. – 4th, 7 a. m., 10 dr. 4x dil. After 1/2 hours frequent eructation, with pains in belly and rumbling; prickling and smarting in eyes as though they would water and inflame; jerking tearing in bone behind right ear; paralytic drawing and bone pains in left leg – 5th, 8 p. m., 15 dr. Jerking drawing in right foot from ankle – joint to heel, and shooting upwards with bone pains; jerking pain in occiput, drawing left leg. – 6th. No med.; pains slighter, increased during rest, wandering to and fro, radiating from a point through periosteum downwards and upwards. – 7th, m., 20 dr. Jerking drawing in legs, in right ankle – joint, thence downwards to heel – bone, a peculiar feeling of horripilation as though the foot were going to sleep; when it is more considerable it is a creaking feeling. This sensation is persistent with only short intervals. Boring in right upper maxilla, drawing in right wrist and left leg, shooting from ankle – joint through long bones into knee – joint. 8 p. m., 25 dr. The horripilation continues, and affects the left arm also, especially when it is lying down, at same time drawing in upper and fore – arm and the three last fingers of left hand; the arm is as if paralysed. Palpitation and stitches in heart; heaviness of head and vertigo. – 8th, 7 a. m., 30 dr. The horripilation and creaking continue; pressive drawing in right, then in left ankle – joint, in right wrist – joint; pressive drawing in right upper maxilla; shooting in right lower maxilla; tearing in right temple, shooting into left half of head upwards along forehead in bone, thence to left side of occiput and nape. Drawing in left leg; cramp – like tension in right calf. Shooting deep in right eye, then smarting in eyes as though they would inflame and water. Bruised feeling in body, especially lower extremities, as after great exertion; pale face and weariness, prostration, drawing in right little finger and thumb. – 9th, 7 a. m., 70 dr. Drawing in right ankle – joint, in left knee – joint, through lumbar muscles to hip, also in muscles of calf; tearing in left arm radiating from elbow upwards, feeling as if bones would break. Drawing in right wrist – joint, stitches in right upper maxilla, sacrum feels bruised. 10th, 7 a. m., 20 dr. 3rd dil. Drawing in left calf, in left loin, shooting tearing in right upper maxilla, drawing in left temple and in occiput; cramp in dorsum of foot. Pains always worst when at rest, many dreams. – 11th, 7 a. m., 30 dr. Pressive drawing in right ankle – joint and right wrist – joint. Drawing in right calf, with lame pain in hough as after exertion; jerking drawing in nerves of head here and there. Throbbing in veins of both feet as from congestion of blood. 8 p. m., 40 dr. Dreams with vivid visions, pressive drawing in both legs as if bruised, then a persistent pressive cutting pain in ankle – and knee – joints, radiating through the tendons of dorsum of foot to toes, also from wrist to tips of fingers, especially left index; jerking cutting shooting in ear; ringing and rattling in right ear; great itching behind and within right ear; jerking drawing in right upper maxilla; creeping and creaking in right foot. Pressure in head, and heaviness as if too full of blood; jerking drawing in upper part of left side of head; stitches in apices of both lungs. – 12th, 8 p. m., 20 dr. 2x dil. Drawing in right ankle – and wrist – joints up to knee or elbow; tinnitus in right ear; transient stitches in right concha; tension like ulcerative pain on left ankle, as if gathering, when treading; jerking pain in muscles of both arms; cramp pain in calves and formication as if gone to sleep. Drawing in fingers of right hand; bruised pain, especially in legs; transient tearing in right upper and lower maxillae. Violent anxiety – causing stitches in left lungs, especially on breathing. – 13th. No med. The above pains, but in slighter degree. – 14th, 7 a. m., 30 dr. Stitch under left sole; wandering drawing pains in thighs and legs and left arm. Palpitation of heart, heaviness of head; pulsation in veins of right foot. – 15th, 7 a. m., 10 dr. 1 x dil. Paralytic drawing in right arm, especially wrist to finger tips; drawing in both feet; shooting under right sole; drawing in right upper maxilla; constant tinnitus in right ear; drawing in nerves of head; stitches in apices of both lungs; itching behind right ear. – 16th, 7 a. m., 20 dr. Same drawing pains, stitches in lungs, palpitation and stitches in heart; itching all over body. – 17th, 25 dr. Same symptoms but more severe; on scratching the itching places red spots come out on arms and hands; pimples like commencing boils on scapulae and neck; slight moisture behind right ear. – 18th, 7 a. m., 3 dr. tinct. Same symptoms; furuncles were developed, moist place behind ear. – 19th, 4 dr.; 20th, 5 dr.; 21st, 6 dr. Same symptoms; violent drawing pains in arms, legs, and head; violent stitches in lungs, congestion of blood to chest, with anxiety; pulsation of vessels of head and feet; palpitation and stitches in heart; itching of skin with red spots, furuncles and moisture behind right ear; bleeding haemorrhoids, which had never had before. The stitches in lungs went off after 2 day, and the symptoms of venosity soon afterwards disappeared. But the rheumatic pains continued with greater or less severity till middle of February, though he had never before suffered from rheumatism. After a chill they became very violent, and were removed by ran. bulb. 2 in 3 d.
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.