Introduction
Urginea Scilla, Steinheil. Squill, sea onion. Nat. ord., Liliacea.
Provings
I. HAHNEMANN, Mat.Medorrhinum Pura, vol. iii of original, vol. ii of translation. Contains 86 symptoms from self, 172 from 7 associates, and 30 from authors.
2. Dr. HAMMOND took 2 gr. of the dried bulb 3 times a day for 3 day to ascertain effects on urine. It was found to act similarly to digitalis and juniper, causing increase in water of urine and inorganic solids, but reduction in amount of organic matter-the latter considerably greater than with the other two substances. (Urine, from 1358 c. c., rose to 1493 – 1572, and inorganic solids from 27 grm. to 30 – 31; organic solids fell from 42 grm. 28 – 31.) (Amer. Journ. of Medorrhinum Sc., N. S., xxxvii, 277.)
3. The Vienna Society of Physicians proved the extr., beginning with 1/4 gr. and increasing to 19 gr. doses. The following symptoms were observed: – Great ill – humour; pressure in stomach, frequent eructations, nausea and inclination; vomit; increased warmth in abdomen and much flatulent distension, with griping and rumbling; pulse accelerated in one, retarded in another; trembling and weakness of extremities; general discomfort; chilliness over whole body. From small doses stools diminished at first; from larger ones frequent and soft, with burning at anus, – in one prover first soft stool was accompanied by pain in sacrum and tenesmus, but it relieved griping; from larger doses stools were sluggish, and constipation followed the proving. In one prover from large doses there was increased secretion of urine till the liquid stools set in. (Zeitsch. d. Gesell. der. Aerztc zu Wien, 1847.)
4. The subject of experiment was a young man who, before commencing to take the drug, had his urine investigated for 5 day with the following result: Ist day passed 1386 grm., sp. gr. 1016. 2nd ” ” 1542 ” ” 1015. 3rd ” ” 1282 ” ” 1016. 4th and 5th ” ” 1534 ” ” 1016. He now got gr. iij Sc. 4 times a d. Immediately increased saliva; warm feeling in stomach, which went off after 4 day, though still continuing to take the drug. On 5th day a persistent clayey taste, with tongue furred whitish yellow, eructation of tasteless and inodorous gas, diminished appetite and feeling of discomfort in stomach, occasional pains in abdomen, stools not more numerous but more copious increased thirst. The urine was as follows: Ist day passed 1392 grm., sp. gr. 1016. 2nd ” ” 1418 ” ” 1016. 3rd ” ” 1428 ” ” 1016. 4th ” ” 1622 ” ” 1014. 5th ” ” 1405 ” ” 1016. 6th ” ” 1382 ” ” 1016. After waiting some day, by which time all the symptoms had disappeared, he got 3ss Sc. This caused the same symptoms but in greater degree. Three day afterwards he got 3j p. dose. and had retching, diarrhoea, and colic, and the experiment had to be stopped. While taking these larger doses the urine was as follows: Ist day passed 1422 grm., sp. gr. 1015. 2nd ” ” 1398 ” ” do. 3rd ” ” 1438 ” ” do. 4th ” ” 1242 ” ” 1016. 5th ” ” 1297 ” ” 1017. 6th ” ” 1285 ” ” do. 7th ” ” 1462 ” ” 1015. The inferences drawn from this trial are: I. Squill in small medicinal doses has in the healthy no diuretic action, it increases neither the quantity nor the sp. gr. of the urine. 2. In large doses it is not a diuretic in the healthy. 3. In small doses continued for a considerable time it causes in the healthy slight gastric disturbance, in larger doses this disturbance is greater. (PIEPER, Allg. Medorrhinum Cent. Zeit., xxiv, 565.).
Poisonings
I. A labourer, aet. 58, affected with general dropsy, procured some squills cut in small pieces, which he digested for 48 hours in about 280 grm. of white wine. He took at one dose the half of this mixture, and as he very soon after experienced violent griping, he took a few more spoonful to increase the effect. Extreme nausea and yet more violent colic was the result; and when these had continued 24 hours, without giving rise to vomiting, Wolfing was called in. He found face of patient red and burning, but feet and hands almost cold; pulse was small and contracted; abdomen so tender that slightest covering could not be borne. Emollients, &c., were given, and pains had almost entirely ceased on 2nd day; but patient then expired. (Lond. and Ed. Monthly Journ. of Medorrhinum Sc., iii, 79.)
2. I have witnessed several instances in which the ordinary medicinal dose of the tinct. or of the powdered dry squill caused very alarming symptoms – violent colic, purging, palpitation, difficult or embarrassed breathing, dilatation of pupils, and bloody urine. In one case, which terminated fatally, an eruption not unlike that of purpura haemorrhagica appeared, attended with a considerable degree of collapse. (A. T. THOMSON, Lancet, 1836 – 7, ii, 851.)
5. Plenk saw convulsions produced by S. in a child. A case is related in which 3j of the powder was taken to relieve a fit of asthma; but it produced violent and painful vomiting, great prostration, itching and an eruption on the skin, injected face, great heat of trunk and head, and coldness of extremities. The result, however, was not fatal.) (STILLE, op. cit.).
Experiments on animals
I. M. GOSSELIN experienced on dogs and rabbits with Scillitine, A substance of doubtful composition and varying character obtained from squills.–EDs. and with the “resinoid matter” of Tilloy. His conclusions are that Scillitine exhibits all the characters of the “narcotico – acid” poisons of Orfila; that it is very poisonous in doses of 5 centigr., and even in those of 3 – 4 centigr. excites an active inflammation of the alimentary canal; that its ingestion by the stomach has for the first effect violent vomiting and purging, but that narcotism manifests itself later, and that death seems to ensue upon contractions of the heart ending in its paralysis; and that, applied endermically, it acts much more rapidly, and almost exclusively as a narcotic, killing a rabbit in 37 m. and a vigorous dog in 1 hours 22 m. (Ann. de Therap., 1857, p. 98.)
2. CHATEAU administered to dogs, in various ways, divers preparations of Scilla. He thus sums up its effects: – “The animals become sad; then ensues salivation, nausea, efforts to vomit, semi – liquid stools voided with difficulty, and as it were drop by drop; then, when dose is large enough, tremors, and paralysis of hind limbs which soon extends to fore limbs. Convulsions, sudden and brief, occur, and then immediately comes complete collapse and death. There was constantly observed a reduction of temp. during the toxic action. P. M., besides evidences of local irritation, the ganglia of the sympathetic were found red, and the cerebellum and spinal cord sometimes softened to the extent of diffluence. (Arch. Gen. de. Medorrhinum, 1854, i, 53.)
3. HUSEMANN, from his experiments on animals, arrives at the following conclusions: – (1) The action on the nerves and the muscular structure of the heart is the same as that of digitalis and other so – called cardiac poisons; (2) Its diuretic action can only be explained by its producing increase of the blood – pressure in conjunction with its action on the heart; (3) it is not an anti – pyretic; there is, on the contrary, a constant rise of temp. both from large and from small doses. (Lond. Medorrhinum Record, 1876, p. 120.)
4. SCHROFF experimented on rabbits, using alcoholic extracts of Squill and also Scillitine. The latter occasioned contraction of pupil, great debility, muscular tremors, sinking of pulse, diuresis, dulness, oppressed breathing, and death; the former gave rise to similar but less intense phenomena which also ended fatally. After death by Scillitine there was inflammation and erosion of stomach, and haemorrhagic transudations were found about heart and lungs and in kidneys and brain. (B. and F. M. Ch. Review, 1865, ii, 248.)
5. Emmert and Hering, who introduced S. into the peritoneal cavity of animals, found that the characteristic symptoms followed; and Chiarenti rubbed a solution into the skin of a dog with the effect of producing copious diuresis. (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.