5. A lady, aet. 28, whose youngest child was 10 years old, finding herself again pregnant, wished to procure abortion, and took an unknown quantity of ergot. She got ill and sent for the doctor, who found the uterus, which previously had been in its normal position, now depressed so as to be almost betwixt the labia (she was in 3rd month of pregnancy). the orifice of uterus was dilated, so that the finger could be introduced. The patient had extreme urging to urinate, and labour pains. She could only obtain a little ease by lying on her belly on wet cloths. Narcotics brought very transient relief. This state lasted 3 day, but no abortion took place, and the uterus, gradually resumed its normal place; its orifice contracted, and the lady went to the full end of pregnancy. (WERNICH, Versuch. u. d. Mutterkorns, Berlin, 1874.)
6. A girl, aet. 22, being pregnant, took an unknown quantity of ergot. She was seized with vomiting and great pain in abdomen. After some discharge of blood from vulva a foetus 5 in. long came away. Next n. she became worse, asked constantly for water, became unconscious, pulse scarcely perceptible, and she died. P. M. – Marked hyperaemia of veins in adipose layer under skin, congestion of vessels of omentum, great injection of vessels of stomach and intestines, reddish-brown colour of lower surface of liver, dark black colour and congestion of spleen, great hyperaemia of renal pelvis, brownish-red injection of external and posterior surface of bladder, pulmonary parenchyma dark blackish red from great congestion, both ventricles of heart empty. (OTTO, Betz’ Memorabilien, xv, 1870, Pt. 2, p. 25; in Ibid.)
7. Marry R -, in 4th mo. of pregnancy, was seized after a fright and severe exertion with uterine haemorrhage, which continued several d. After opium had been given in vain, 3ss of ergot was administered, and repeated in an h. This was at 8 p. m. Next m. she had violent headache, and in course of day became delirious and cloud with difficulty be kept in bed. These symptoms yielded to purgatives, shaving and blistering head, &c. A few day after haemorrhage returned; ergot was again given, and again followed by delirium, although in slighter degree. (MAUNSELL, Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., xiv, 605.)
8. Mrs. F -, 2 mos. pregnant, was attacked with haemorrhage from vagina, for which, after failure of other means, ergot was given as above. After taking the two doses she fell asleep, and when she awoke the discharge returned; another scruple was then given, in an hours after which she vomited. On following day she was in a state of semi-stupor, with very violent headache and weak depressed pulse. Similar treatment was adopted with success. (Ibid.)
9. a. On June 3rd, 4 p. m., I was called to see M. M -, aet. 28, till lately a hospital nurse, said to have “burst” a blood – vessel. Patient volunteered no information, but admitted taking “two handfuls” of ergot. Subsequent events and autopsy proved she had been taking the liquid extr. for months, and had quite recently taken two handfuls of the powder not infused. I observed a basin of reddish – brown pultaceous matter, said to have been vomited by patient at 8 a. m. Had vomited something like this a few day previously, and complained of lumbar and arthritic pains. Passed a very hard stool on previous evening, and a quantity of urine which looked like blood. About same time vomited lots of blood. During n. and m. had gradually become worse. On examination, face, eyes, neck and upper portion of chest were intensely jaundiced, intensity diminishing from above downwards. She had a pair of genuine “black eyes.” Rest of body of a natural appearance. Expression anxious and general condition maudlin. Occasional fits of stupor and apathy ensued. A distinct etherish odour could be perceived. Lips and tongue slightly swollen and covered with dry black blood. Edges of tongue and lips were of darker hue than natural, and moist. She lay chiefly on her right side. Skin pale and cold. Temp. 96 degree in axilla. Pulse could just be felt, but beat seemed to disappear before I could judge of its character; to count it was impossible. Respiration noisy, laboured, 48. Thirst intense. No appetite. Could swallow with ease. No stool or micturition since last e. Harsher breathing at base of right lung than elsewhere. Action of heart as peculiar as pulse; area and force of pulsation both increased, while impulse against chest – wall was of a distinctly rolling character; 150 such cycles were made to the m. Milk found in breasts. Pregnancy was suspected, and very shortly after a uterine contraction was noticed. From 6 p. m. pulse could not be felt. Labour was induced, and liquor chlori given as an antidote. At 9:35 respiration was 56; it gradually became easier and slower, and stupor deepened. Every now and then a paroxysmal state would intervene and patient sit up in bed. Just before delivery respiration ceased altogether.
9 b. Autopsy, 32 hours after death. Appearance similar to that during life, except a welling from mouth and nose of greyish-black and gritty matter, very fluid. Body well nourished. Greenish streaks on abdomen. Cadaveric rigidity passing off. Brain firm and free from hemorrhage. Membranes looser than usual. Temporal artery bled profusely in making preliminary incision into scalp. On opening thorax and abdomen an enormous quantity of fat was exposed, with innumerable minute hemorrhages embedded in it. Peritoneum and bowels covered with the same, the latter bound down by adhesions. Large amount of fluid blood in abdominal cavity; no large vessel ruptured, haemorrhage seeming to result from rupture of enormous number of small ones. Diaphragm arched. Liver natural size; on section, dry, bloodless, waxy – looking, and slightly dirty yellow. It was easily lacerable. Spleen smaller than usual, and on section dirty red; blood oozed copiously from it. Kidney’s enlarged, pale, and waxy-looking, capsules easily separate. Stomach exhibited ruptured vessels in its walls, and contained considerable quantity of same fluid as came from mouth and nose. Bowels in same condition. Uterus was about size of an adult head; its wall stained all over with dark effusions; cavity contained a foetus of about 5 mos. Neither liq. amnii nor blood in uterine cavity. Pleura non-adherent. Lungs rather anaemic, with a steel-grey appearance; on this as a ground were scattered innumerable irregular dots size of a small pea, which were haemorrhages. R. lung congested at its base. Heart enlarged, having a large quantity of fat on its anterior wall and sides externally, but valves were healthy. Cavities practically empty. (A. DAVIDSON, M. B., Lancet, 1882, ii, 526.)
10. a. The action of spurred rye on the uterus, when labour has actually commenced, is usually observed in 10-20 m. after it has been taken, and is manifested by increase in violence, continuance, and frequency of the pains, which usually never cease until the child is born; nay, they often continue for some m. after, and promote the speedy separation of the placenta and the firm contraction of the uterus in a globular form. The contraction and pains caused by ergot are distinguished from those of natural labour by their continuance; scarcely any interval can be perceived between them, but a sensation is experienced as of one continued forcing effort. There is usually much less haemorrhage after delivery when ergot has been employed.
10b. I have known increased frequency and fulness of pulse, copious perspiration, and flushed countenance, follow the use of ergot during parturition. But in most instances the opposite effect has been induced; the patient has experienced great faintness, the pulse has been greatly diminished in both frequency and fulness, and the face has become pale or livid. See, inter alia, HARDY, Dubl. Quarterly Journ. for 1845. (PERPEIRA, op. cit.)
11. A woman had ergot given to her in a perfectly natural labour, to expedite delivery. It brought on one continued pain of a character and intensity such as she had never experienced before, and during which, to use her own expression, she felt as if “the whole of her body was coming from her.” The child was violently extruded, and the uterus and bladder were driven down into the pelvis, the bladder remaining outside the labia. It was not until some time had elapsed that these organs were restored to their normal position. (BARNES, Lancet, 1853, ii, 434.)
12. In one case, in which I gave 3ss three times at intervals of 10 m., pulse came down from 120 to 90, considerable stupor and epistaxis supervened, but no uterine action. In a second pulse came down to even below natural standard, and a similar tendency to coma existed, with corresponding absence of pains. (CUSACK, Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., xiv, 606.)
13. A woman, when in her 3rd labour, got in 2 doses an infusion of 3ij of ergot. She was delivered within 1/2 hours of taking first dose. A few m. after the doctor had left she vomited what appeared to be the medicine. Presently she lost all voluntary motion and even the power of utterance. Her heart beat rapidly for a long time, and her breathing was very laboured. The room appeared to be like water extremely agitated on its. surface. She compared it to the “foaming of a troubled sea.” After some hours the heart beat more quietly, and then became more agitated, intermitting in this manner all d. During early part of day lay quite motionless, but recovered power of movement in e. During day passed much urine, but knew when it came away. She declared that such was her helplessness at one time that “had the child been falling out of bed, or the house been on fire, she could not have made the least muscular effort.” (J. WRIGHT, Edin. Medorrhinum and Surg. Tourn., iii, 12.)
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.