3. A young woman (21), far advanced in pregnancy, awoke her mother at 3 a. m. complaining of violent pain in stomach. She was very sick, and her mother gave her brandy and water. This did not diminish the sickness, and she soon became insensible. Mr. Newth found her at 11 a. m. foaming at mouth. countenance turgid, eyes closed, pupils much contracted; limbs were also convulsed. He found first stage of labour present, and at 3 p. m. a child of 7 to 8 mos. was extracted, the mother having ceased to breathe just previously. P. M. was made 24 hours later. Cerebral vessels were gorged with black fluid blood; other organs healthy, save some red patches in stomach, in which savin was detected. (LETHEBY, Lancet, 1845, i, 677.)
4. a. A quantity of a strong infusion was taken on a Friday and again on following m. by a pregnant woman to induce abortion. She suffered from violent pain in belly and distressing strangury, aborted on the Sunday, and died on the ensuing Thursday. Autopsy discovered extensive peritoneal inflammation, unequivocally indicated by effusion of fibrinous flakes; inside of stomach had red tint, checkered with patches of florid extravasation.
4 b. In another case a girl was seized with violent colicky pains, vomiting, tenesmus, dysuria, and fever. After suffering several day she died. Stomach and intestines were inflamed, former in parts black, and at lower curvature perforated. (Savin was found in stomach.) (CHRISTISON, op. cit.)
5. A healthy female had reached about 7th mo. of pregnancy. She was very well on Friday, but was seized with vomiting on Saturday, which continued through Sunday, and was of a green colour. She was first seen by Mr. Lord on Sunday evening, when symptoms were those of gastro-enteritis, great anxiety, pulse 150. Vomiting continued at intervals; there was no violent purging. Labour came on Wednesday; child was born living, but soon died; mother died on Thursday. P. M., lining membrane of esophagus reddened, with ecchymosed patches; in stomach a large patch of redness from greater curvature towards pylorus; no ulceration or erosion in either; interior of duodenum, especially towards pylorus, intensely inflamed; and patches of inflammation were found in other portions of canal. There was some peritonitis, chiefly on upper parts of intestines and omentum. Kidneys were inflamed, and of dark red colour. Powdered savin was found in large quantity in stomach and duodenum. Probably same as ii, 2; though observer’s name is different.–eds. (TAYLOR, op. cit.)
6. A woman, aet. 30, who wished to produce abortion, took an infusion of herb. sabin., which was followed by violent vomiting. After some day she had severe pain, and at length she miscarried with great metrorrhagia, and died. P. M. showed the gall- bladder burst, the bile escaped, and the bowels inflamed. (MOHRENHEIM, Versuch, ii, 245, in Wimber.)
7. A pregnant girl took repeatedly; she did not miscarry, but after a time had hemoptysis. (HALLER, Hist. stirp. Helv., ii, 321, in Wimber.).
Experiments on animals
I. ORFILA applied 3ij of powder to an incised wound in the leg of a dog. Inflammation and serous infiltration of the limb took place, and death occurred in about 36 h. Lungs and stomach were healthy, but duodenum showed near pylorus a circular blackish spot formed by extravasated blood, mucous membrane below it being dark red throughout its substance. There were also several dark red spots in lining of rectum. 3iv introduced into stomach of another dog, esophagus being tied, caused death in 13 hours; stomach was inflamed, though not very red, and rectum showed some reddish spots. (Toxicologie, sub voce.)
2. HILLEFELD gave 3j of oil to a male cat. It caused flow of saliva, anxiety, frequent discharge of urine, dullness, trembling, and, in 1 1/4 hours, bloody urine. The animal having been strangled, bladder was found ecchymosed, and coagulated blood in its cavity. (WIBMER, op. cit.)
3. LETHEBY gave 3ij of powder mixed with food to a small terrier. In 2 1/2 hours it began to vomit, and continued to do so at intervals for 1 1/2 h. It then lay down exhausted, and 2 hours later was found in some position, insensible and comatose, with slow labouring pulse. In this condition it remained for 8 hours; passing a good deal of bloody by stool. In 14 hours from taking dose animal died. Brain was found gorged with blood; lower bowels were highly congested, and contained blood. (Lancet, 1845, i, 677.)
4. MITSCHERLICH’s experiments prove that the oil is a powerful poison. It is absorbed into the system, for its odour can be detected in the cavities of the body and in the blood, as well as in the breath and urine. The intestinal lesions it produces are not in themselves mortal, for they seldom extend beyond vascular congestion and an abundant exfoliation of epithelium. Kidneys are greatly congested. Muscular irritability continues for a long time after death. During life respiration and circulation were hurried; in one experiment urine was several times voided, dullness and insensibility supervened, extremities were paralyzed, breathing laboured, pulse could not be counted, and death took place after a very protracted struggle. (STILLE, op. cit.).
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.