2. A strong otherwise healthy man suffered from gout, for which he got Acidum salicylicum in considerable doses. His gout was gradually relieved, but the following symptoms appeared; First there was confusion of head, and unsteady feeling and slight vertigo. He felt as though he had suddenly risen up after having long been lying. Then he imagined he heard music; this wakes him up repeatedly. Sometimes the sounds he heard were like the humming of swarming bees or of flies in the open air when all is silent. (He had at this time red urine with great sediment, and profuse sweats, but these might have been only the usual gouty symptoms.) After 3 or 4 day of taking the medicine he complained of severe and persistent pressure in abdomen with the sensation of incarcerated flatulence. The seat of this tiresome pressure was sometimes in the hypochondria, sometimes in the hypogastrium. There was also constipation for several d. Since commencing the medicine he had not had a proper stool. there was also a persistent pressure on one side of the sternum on a place the size of a hand, with a feeling as if the bone was painful. The patient complained of a bitter bilious taste the whole time he was taking the medicine, though he took it in a form in which its taste was disguised. – Some patients while taking Acidum salicylicum experience a smell of musk, and in some it causes constant sneezing when inhaled or applied externally. It has also been observed that women taking it have their menses too early, too profusely, and lasting too long. (GOULLON, A. h. Z., xcvii, 68.)
3. S. acid (with its sodium salt) is to be classed with the drugs which most frequently and extensively produce undesired effects. Some of this class of symptoms seem to be typical attendants on the antifebrile action of the drug, and therefore very frequently follow its use. To this category belong certain phenomena manifested by the central nervous system. Other symptoms, such as changes on the skin and disturbances of the functions of internal organs, appear but seldom, and are probably dependent upon an individual predisposition on the part of the patient affected. They all have this in common, that they disappear rapidly, without leaving injurious results behind.
3 a. On taking S. acid, there is experienced a repulsive taste, with burning and itching in mouth and throat. After absorption, as Stricker first stated, there may occur buzzing in the ears with difficulty in hearing, and profuse sweating- symptoms which do not contra-indicate the continued use of the drug. Still more important nervous symptoms have been observed by other authors. Thus Riegel, after doses of 4 – 6 grm., noticed in addition to the above symptoms headache, giddiness, and (very temporary) delirium; and Schumacher observed besides hallucinations of vision, which caused great anxiety. According to Riess, there may be also weakness of vision, as well as specks before eyes. Muller observed, after the daily use for 9 day of 15 grm. of S. of sodium in a case of diabetes, a condition of psychical depression with violent headache and mental weakness. Patient also complained of weakness of legs, uncertainty in motion, and paretic inclination of body to right side; through his sight was good, he ran against objects while walking. The symptoms disappeared within 5 days after use of drug was discontinued, and returned when it was again taken in smaller doses. Goltdammer observed conditions of collapse of different degrees several times, after 5 grm. doses of S. of sodium.
3 b. Besides occasional local irritation of stomach and intestines, it would seem that this drug, though rarely, is capable of irritating the kidneys. Lurmann reports the occurrence, after taking 4 grm. of S. of sodium, of albuminuria, with oedema of forearms and legs, which disappeared when drug was stopped, and returned when it was again administered. After longer doses, Muller witnessed diminution in amount of urine, and albuminuria.
3 c. The changes in the skin occasionally observed after the use of S. of sodium are erythematous, urticarious, or petechial, and are usually attended with intense itching. After 4 grm., Heinlein witnessed, in a case of articular rheumatism, the appearance, accompanied by unbearable itching, of a diffuse redness of left half of face, lower extremities, and right side of chest, with slight oedema of both eyelids, upper lip, and legs as far as middle of thighs. All these symptoms disappeared within 24 hours after discontinuance of drug. When 4 grm. were again administered, there appeared a diffuse erythematous redness, with itching, while whole abdomen, as well as lower extremities, became covered with wheals seated on the reddened base. The latter disappeared spontaneously after an hours, the other manifestations on following d. Leube also saw an urticaria appear after 4 grm. Freudenberg saw a petechial eruption in an individual suffering from marasmus, after 5 grm. had been taken daily for 5 d. The petechiae, which were the seat of intense itching, and some of which were as large as a florin, were originally seated upon the back, but spread on following day over breast, shoulders, upper arms, hip and thighs. In the course of 8 day the spots became pale, and the epidermis was cast off in great scales from the affected parts. After complete recovery, 5 grm. of S. ac. were administered in capsules, with a similar result. (LEWIN, op. cit.)
4. a. If we take 2 to 3 grm. of S. ac. at once and repeat this dose, it often produces the same. d. nausea and vomiting, sometimes with sensation of burning in oesophagus stomach. The most constant effect of the salicylic preparations is the rapid occurrence of noises in the ears from doses of 5 to 6 grm. of the acid, or 10 grm. of the Sal. of soda. These noises are heard in ears and all through head; patients compare noises to distant rollings, undulations, they say they feel the blood circulating in their skulls, but these sensations are not accompanied by anything like vertigo; the most they experience is a kind of incertitude in their gait. There is often a diminished sensitiveness of the hearing, sometimes amounting to deafness. This occurs at the end of 2 or 3 day of the use of 6 grm. acid or 10 to 12 of soda salt On leaving off the medicine these symptoms generally cease immediately.
4 b. After large or too frequently repeated doses there is sometimes observed a calm delirium without hallucinations or excitement; rarely violent delirium resembling delirium tremens, still more rarely convulsions of a tetanic character.
4 c. No alteration of temperature was observed from daily doses of 6 grm. acid or 10 grm. soda salt. The pulse and respiration are not affected by such doses. (SEE, Bull. de l’ de Acad. de Medorrhinum, vi, 698. 1877.)
5. A woman, aet. 40, whose hearing was unimpaired, and who was not subject to giddiness, for acute rheumatism began to take Jan. 26th gr. xxv of S. of soda every 3 h. On 28th she complained of noises in ears, deafness, and giddiness, which had increased so much next day that medicine was omitted. On following day giddiness was much less, and on 31st had almost gone. On Feb. 6th same doses were resumed; and on 7th same symptoms were complained of. Noises in ears were constant; watch was heard only at 2 in. from either ear, and was not heard at all on either side when in firm contact with zygoma or mastoid process. Tuning-fork on vertex was heard fairly well, but sound was not increased by closing ears. Giddiness was slight and indeterminate as long as she lay still, but was very constant and definite when she raised her head or sat up. Objects before her all seemed moving to r. On 8th these symptoms continued, and she could hear watch at 6 in. from either ear, and also, though faintly, when in contact with zygoma or mastoid process, but not when in contact with parietal eminence. Another resumption of the drug, on the 23rd, was followed by the same results. When patient was convalescent, a careful examination of the state of hearing revealed very little abnormality. (GOWERS, Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., April 21st, 1877.)
6. A girl of 16, with acute rheumatism, had taken 3j of S. of soda in 10 h. In 3 hours after last dose she awoke from sleep totally blind, with considerable mydriasis. There was no alteration of conjunctival or corneal sensibility, and no visible change in fundus oculi; urine also showed no albumen. Deafness co-existed. 10 hours later, on waking, found sight completely restored; but mydriasis, and also deafness, continued for some time. (Lancet, 1880, ii, 778.)
7. After taking 11 grm. of S. acid patient’s mind became very stupid, it was difficult for him to collect his ideas; then he laughed without cause, talked incessantly and disconnectedly, frequently looking about him, with apparent hallucinations. This condition lasted 24 hours (ALLEN’s Encyclopaedia.)
8. Immediately after taking a 10 gr. powder patient began to sweat profusely. As he repeated them, perspiration, increased and strength visibly diminished that his wife was unwilling to give him the 4th. He insisted, however, and after taking it vomiting and an agonizing headache set in, which continued all n. In m. he seemed unconscious, and simply groaned loudly. Only for a moment did his mind seem clear, when he cried out, “My head! my head!” to the physicians present. All treatment was futile, and he died in 40 hours after taking the Ist powder. No P. M. examination was permitted. (Ibid.)
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.