Introduction
A crystallized neutral principle (C 15H18O3) obtained from worm – seed.
Provings.
I. Dr. EDMUND ROSE one evening took 3 gr., and repeated dose in 3 hours. At this time the blue halo of a wax taper appeared yellow. His sleep was disturbed by colic. On awaking his skin seemed to him to have a corpse-like hue, the white bed cover appeared yellow. The urine was of an orange color. He then took 4 gr., and in course of forenoon 8 gr. more. His mind was somewhat confused, and there was some nausea, which disappeared on addition of nitric acid. Sense of weariness continued more or less for 5 days; red tint of urine was still apparent after 6 weeks. ( Virchow’s Archiv, xvi, 237. Apparently referring to same occasion, Dr. Rose writes (See i, 2), ” I especially remember the unpleasant sensations which I had to endure, after a strong dose, in a perfectly quiet posture, on the covered portions of my extremities, sensations which I cannot describe or compare to anything else. I could not call it formication, for the sensation was a very gentle and continuous one; neither had it any resemblance to the pricking and numbness in the nerve after pressure on the elbow.”).
2. a. One result of the series of experiments which I communicated some years ago[*See Virchow’s Archiv, xviii, xix, xx*] was the manifestation of a series of phenomena of visual illusion in persons poisoned by South. They are reducible to three perfectly distinct classes: first Everyone, however small the quantity taken, was prevented by it from recognising violet light, the spectrum being seen as if curtailed at the violent end, and in mixtures containing violet and yellow the latter predominating (yellow – sight, Gelbsehen). second. In a higher degree of intoxication there is impairment of the faculty of distinguishing colours; the infinite host of hues which a healthy person can appreciate being reduced to an extremely small number. The subject is no longer colour – blind (to violet); he sees every colour, but certain groups of them make an identical impression. [* This Dr.Rose calls, for reasons given, “violet- sight.”*] Both conditions are dependent on the external stimulus of the entrance of light; but there is third class of phenomena independent of this, and almost exclusively – at least most clearly and beautifully -observed in perfect darkness. The others are illusions; these are hallucinations.
The following experiments were instituted especially to develop the last – named phenomena:
2 b. Dr. H. – took 10 gr., fasting, at 8.38 a. m. At 9:15 the dark field of vision appeared blue within and bordered with red circle. At 9.24 whole field passed from red through violent to blue. Then green ball made their appearance in it, and specks, partly red and partly yellow, moving very rapidly on the blue ground. This appearance continued of the same kind, and was very intense; it was not till 10.5 that movement of balls became slower. No large red spot ever appeared on field of vision. at 10:30, no change; at 11, a fainter impression. (There was no trace of “violet – sight; ” “yellow – sight,” however, did decidedly occur, but abated much at 11.).
2 c. Dr. M. – took 15 gr. of santonate of soda, fasting, at 10.29. at 10.36, dark field of vision appeared after some time lilac; but black objects looked at still appeared after some time lilac; but black objects looked at still appeared black. At 10.47, a dizzy sensation commenced. At Ii, took colourless bright surface for green. Nausea came on, and after food with wine increased to retching (without vomiting), and to dull throbbing pains at chest, worse on stooping. A bitter taste of water, and an indescribable smell, were particularly noticed. (Prover had had a gastric catarrh for 6 months, showing itself by eructations and heartburn.).
2 d. In another, in 25 morning after dark, field after some time appeared blue, with dark blue tailing clouds, which soon disappeared. In another, 30 morning after 10 gr. of santonate of soda, dark field became pure violet, without any movement, disappearing after 3 morning. Later, he could not see blue and violet, without any movement, disappearing after 3 morning. Later, he could not see blue and violet in the spectrum; and called three discs, dark violet, dark green, and black respectively, all “dark blue.”
2 e. Miss A – took 10 gr. of santonate of soda at 12:10. Had breakfasted as usual, and 1/2 hour before had eaten a pear. In about 40 morning yellow-sight commenced, with a slight alteration of taste and smell. After some time whole dark field appeared uniformly pale violet, then red, then bluish, and lastly, dark violet. This remained, and recurred on again closing eyes. On opening them, yellow-sight was strong, and on shaded spots violet sight was equally marked.
2 f. Same took 6 gr. of santonate of soda, fasting, at 8.23 a. m. No effect for 1/2 hour. At 8.58, on covering eyes, saw bluish – grey streaks on dark field, later a lilac patch. All then vanished; but a dark yellow was at 9.5 pronounced to be white, and its complementary blue,-a blue gleam also was noticed on Dr. Rose’s hand. As yellow – sight was found very strong at same time (9.8), field of vision was at once darkened; and after long closing of eyes it looked quite of a reddish violet, without movement, yet with varying intensity. At 9.11, colour of field became fainter, but variation more marked, till at 9.12 colour disappeared entirely, and never appeared any more, though eyes were kept blindfolded till 9 14 1/2. At 9.49, yellow-sight and violet-sight were clearly present, but no hallucinations. Miss A – was very nauseated, with retching; relieved by breakfast. At 10.47, flow of water into mouth and a single vomiting, after which a peculiar taste and smell existed, lasting till evening and increasing with return of nausea before supper. Yellow-sight and lilac patches on objects continued slightly till noon.
2 g. Out of 30 human subjects of experiment, there were reported-yellow-sight in all; violet – sight in 19; hallucinations of vision in 8, of smell in 6, of taste in 5; abnormal feelings and pains in the head in 8; lowering of the pulse in 2. (Ibid., xxvi.)
3. In 1870 I instituted a series of experiments on myself, and briefly append the result.
3 a. Effect on Vision. – 20 morning after 5 gr. I observed flames to assume a decidedly yellow colour, as though spirits were being burnt. Ordinary white glass globes became deeply tinted with yellowish green, and writing-paper exhibited the same phenomenon in somewhat less marked degree. During 3 hours the tints gradually increased, after which they faded by slow stages, and vision was restored to its normal standard.
3 b. Urinary Organs. – 5 gr. were taken at bedtime, and next morning an irresistible and almost uncontrollable desire to micturate was felt, the act being attended with some irritation and smarting. The urine was of a deep saffron yellow, staining the pot and linen precisely as bile. It was of sp. gr. 1028. The quantity was decidedly increased, and the urea somewhat in excess. The diuretic action continued during the day; and it was not till 8 p. m. that the secretion was quite free from foreign pigment.
3 c. Digestive and General Symptoms. – Nausea and dryness of tongue were generally present; and on one occasion, after a 10 gr. dose, well-marked tenesmus was experienced both by myself and by a friend who had shared the experiment. After 5 gr., sleep was generally disturbed, and I usually woke unrefreshed, with sickness, frontal headache, and deficient appetite. But the best- marked symptom, and one which I have not hitherto seen described, was a feeling of profound and most unusual depression, accompanied by so much irresolution and want of confidence in my own powers as to render me quite unfit for work of any kind. this invariably followed even a single 5 gr. dose; and, beginning with dulness and heaviness, ran on into very much that sort of melancholia which I imagine jaundice sometimes produces. (FAR – QUHARSON, Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., 1871, ii, 466.)
4. a. Dr. TH. KRAUSS too at 7 a. m. 2 gr. rubbed up with sugar. Taste slightly bitter. 9 a. m., urine brimstone coloured, acid, on adding NaCO3 and heating it became light scarlet. II a. m., urine with same reaction. 11:30 a. m., suddenly yellow vision came on, objects appeared surrounded by a light yellow border. 3 p. m., yellow vision returned when he directed his attention to it, otherwise not. 3:30 p. m., yellow vision gone, urine no longer showed above reaction. He now took 2 gr. more. At 4:45 p. m. urine showed above reaction. He now took 2 gr. more. At 4:45 p. m. urine showed above reaction. At 5 p. m., yellow vision, confusion of head, glittering before eyes, frontal headache, pressure on eyes and supra 0- orbital region, nausea, eructation, rumbling in bowels. On taking a walk all these symptoms went off. Next morning, confused head, vertigo, weakness, no yellow vision, urine still showed above reaction, which grew gradually less during day, and was quite gone in evening 7.43 a. m., 3 gr. At 8:15 a. m., intense yellow and green vision, but no other symptoms. It declined in 1/2 hours, and was quite gone in 1 hour. Urine showed characteristic reaction. Next morning that had gone. In repeated experiments the yellow vision came 40 to 45 morning after 3 gr. taken, and was gone in 1 hour.
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.