Introduction
Polygala Senega, L. Snakewort. Nat. Ord., Polygalaceae.
Provings
I. Dr. MASSIE took 10 dr. of gum dissolved in water. In 5. sensation in esophagus as if membrane had been abraded, lasted 1 h. Pulse, 84 before experiment, at 15 m. was 78, 20 m. 73, 30 m. 70, 35 m. 68, thence gradually rising to 76. He then took 20 gr. Irritation in esophagus was again felt, with some nausea; the drug also operated slightly as a purgative. (Inaug. Thesis, Penns. Univ., 1803; from ALLEN.)
2. Mr. L. took 20 gr. of powdered root. In 10 m. burning sensation in esophagus with considerable discharge of mucus from trachea (still continuing in slight degree 1 1/2 hours later). Pulse, 65 before experiment, in 10 m. was 70 and fuller; later 72, whence it fell again. (Ibid.)
3. Mr. L-t took same. Had similar feeling in esophagus, with much hawking of mucus. In 30 m. nausea, which increased up to 40 m. Pulse, 65 before experiment, gradually rose in 5-40 m. up to 90, and was still 80-86 after 1-2 h. In 1 1/2 hours skin became very hot; in 1 3/4 hours profuse perspiration set in, and disagreeable symptoms were quite removed. (Ibid.)
4. Mr. W. took same. Same irritation in esophagus; pulse, 68, was 80 at 30 – 40 m., and only returned to its starting-point in 2 1/2 hours (Ibid.)
5. Mr. T. took 10 dr. of resin dissolved in spirit. Esophageal irritation immediately, with a good deal of nausea; both still present at 40 m. Pulse, 72, at 10 m. was 88, much increased in fullness, but somewhat irregular. At 35-80 m. it had fallen to 65. (Ibid.)
6. A lady took 20 gr. of same. Esophageal sensation as in No. 5. At 10 m. considerable nausea, which at 40 m. had subsided. Pulse, 76, at 15 m. was 92, and much fuller. After 20 m. it slowly fell. (Ibid.)
7. Mr. R. took 20 gr. of gum in water. In 5 m. there was copious vomiting. No other symptoms. (Ibid.)
8. Mr. P. took 32 gr. of gum in pills. In 10 m. much nausea, which in 20 m. was so much increased as to be quite distressing, and medicine was with difficulty retained on stomach; it then diminished, and at 60 m. had quite gone. Pulse, 72, rose during 20 m. to 82, thence slowly declining. (Ibid.)
9. SEIDEL, a strong, florid man. a. Took 10 dr. of tinct. Tincture used in following provings was prepared with 20 parts of rectified spirit to 1 part of dried and powdered root.. Soon after, staring at an object, feels as if eyes moved with difficulty; dry cough shaking whole chest. In 1/2 hour dull pain in right ear, and feeling of warmth in it. In 1 hour feeling of warmth and as it were of palsy in left face. In 4 hours pinching and forcing in chest; fugitive stitches in chest during inspiration, while resting. On first day increased thirst. On Ist, 2nd, and 3rd day, when stooping violent congestion to head, especially to eyeballs, where there is pressing pain. On Ist day puffy eyelids; when stooping pressure in eyes as if fluid penetrated into eyeballs, expanding them; illusions of sight; repeated eructations; oppression of chest, especially during rest; violent pressive pain in chest on awaking in m. (first 8 d.), also when awaking during night; pain in chest aggravated in recumbent posture; stitching and crawling and pricking in palms of hands; bodily and mental exhaustion; anxious jerkings and twitchings in upper arm during afternoon sleep; diminished secretion of urine (also 2nd and 3rd d.). On 2nd day chilliness with exhaustion in legs (also 3rd); shadows before eyes; drawing sensation as from a foreign body in integuments of right abdomen while walking; cough during breakfast; sudden violent pain in small spot of right side while walking; pressive pain in chest, especially during rest, lasting several weeks; a small pimple pains at slightest touch; scraping and dryness in throat, hindering speech and obliging him to cough. On 3rd day congestion to chest with violent throbbing therein; marked stitches in small spot deep in left chest, aggravated, by cough and certain movements (also 4th d.); soreness left side of chest (also 4th d.); bruised pain of muscles of left thigh with exhaustion of whole body and laziness of mind. On 4th and following day violent itching in legs compelling to scratch, by which, however, it changes into burning, especially evening in bed.
9 b. Same took 15 dr. Immediately, irritation in throat causes a few dry coughs. In 1/2 hour paralytic pain and drawing from left elbow to little finger, as after a violent knock. In 1 hour violent compression of upper chest, especially during rest; pinching pain in upper right chest with dull stitches; sharp pressure deep in left eyeball. In 3 hours objects appear shaded; slight searching in upper left molars. In first days insipid taste in mouth in morning; increased thirst; diminished secretion of urine; oppression of chest, especially during rest; stitches, crawling and pricking in vola. On 2nd and 3rd day crawling in chest. On 3rd day soreness between 3rd and 4th left ribs, increased from pressure or aggravated to stitches; pain in several teeth and in jaws. On 4th day strong congestion in chest, almost to faintness, sitting; violent forcing and pressing in chest; sleep deep, full of dreams, with confusion in head on awaking.
9 c. Same took 20 dr. Soon, forcing and tightness in chest. In 2 hours griping in stomach with desire for stool. In 4 hours stitches in left vola. In first days, dizziness in head with insipid taste in mouth in m., and yellowish – white fur on tongue; swollen eyelids; increased thirst. On Ist day, eyelashes covered with hard mucus; severe pressure in eyeballs, now right, now left; impaired vision as if dazzled from strong light; when reading dazzling before eyes, rendering it difficult; dryness in mouth and throat with accumulation of tough phlegm; when hawking, rawness in throat; lessened appetite; diminished secretion of urine; certain movements, especially stooping forward, cause pain in chest, as if it was too narrow, there is desire to expand it by repeated stretching, which however produces marked soreness in it; violent pressive pain in chest early on awaking (also for 7 following days, same when awaking during n. for Ist day), pressing on chest increases pain; tightness and crawling in upper chest, especially at rest; bruised feeling in gluteal and femoral muscles; drowsiness in evening (also following days); after lying down, deep stunning sleep (do.); without cause sudden very distinct remembrance of irrelevant sceneries seen long ago, which had not made any particular impression on him before. On Ist n., rest disturbed by dreams, unremembered; sleep restless and broken from oppression of chest. On 2nd and following days, boring stitches in head; dull headache in morning; pressive stunning pain in occiput; dryness nares with discharge of a few drops of blood; shortness of breath and oppression of chest in going upstairs; dull stitches under short ribs, left side; restless tossing about in sleep. On 3rd day, drawing in eyes followed by cool sensation and tears; burning and pressure in eyes towards e. On 3rd and following days, tough phlegm in larynx induces frequent hawking expectoration of small lumps of it; pressive pain in chest. On 4th day, violent pinching pain in chest, especially left side, with restlessness and anxiety during rest. From 6th to 9th day, dull stitches in middle of chest, intermittent. On 6th and following days, when treading firmly or running, chest is violently shaken as if everything in it was sore. On 6th and 7th day, faint feeling while walking in open air p. m. On 7th day, dull stitches, followed by violent oppression in chest, with lassitude of lower limbs, perspiration and malaise (almost faintness), while walking in open air; very painful burning with repeated stitches in upper left chest, worse at rest. On 8th and 9th day, pressive pain between shoulder-blades, especially when treading firmly or making other movements by which the chest is shaken. On 9th day, when treading firmly, walking fast, or running, violent tearing soreness right through chest from front backwards (as if in mediastinum), rendering every motion difficult (lasting several weeks); violent pain and concussion through middle of chest, especially along dorsal vertebrae, lasting some d.
9 d. Same took 30 dr. Soon after, dull pressing headache; burning and scraping in throat. In 1 hour, lower eyelids are drawn spasmodically towards nose (lasting several d.); some sharp stitches through left chest. In 1 1/2 hours tightness and dull pressure in chest. In 2 hours dryness in mouth. In 2-3 hours, tickling of preputium and glans; pinching pain by jerks in glans. In 3 to 4 hours, drawing and pressing in eyeballs, with diminished power of vision. In 4 hours, crawling underneath tongue, also in small spots of chest, more superficial than pleura; burning pain with dull stitches in small spot of left chest, while resting. On Ist day, eyelashes are covered with hard mucus in morning; when reading, dimness of vision with flickering before eyes, compelling to wipe them frequently, which, however, makes it rather worse (also 2nd and 3rd d.); insipid taste in mouth in m. (Ist days); increased thirst (do.); less frequent, scanty, hard evacuations (do.); increased urination, slight burning in glans while urinating (do.); agitations and crawling in chest during rest towards evening; violent pressive pain in chest on waking in m. (for 8 d.), also when waking during n. (first days); under short ribs, mostly of right side, throbbing pressure in small spot, especially during inspiration; when bending head forward, first heavy pressure under upper part of breast-bone, changing gradually into violent bellyache; shifting pains in chest; burning soreness under sternum, especially when moving and drawing deep breath (also 2nd d.); painful drawing in finger-joints; sluggish, wish great inclination to offend and quarrel; buoyant feeling (first days). On 2nd day, repeated painful drawing in forehead; dryness of nares with discharge of a few drops of blood; sticky saliva in mouth (also 3rd d.); touch phlegm in throat in morning; dryness and roughness in throat on waking in morning; urine orange-coloured and pale, on standing it gets turbid, and forms a white precipitate on wall of glass; painful burning with repeated stitches in upper left chest, aggravated from rest. On 3rd day, throbbing pressure in anus after stool; violent burning in left of abdomen when lying on that side, evening; soreness and stitches in small spot of left chest, evening; strong throbbing and soreness in chest when bending forward, with giddiness when bending back again; dislocative pain in right wrist. On 5th day, almost constant twitching and starting of lower eyelids, causing lachrymation; dullness of eyes, with slight burning and lachrymation; scraping and roughness in throat, with accumulation of tough phlegm; agitation and tightness of chest, with flying heat in face and frequent pulse, p. m.; compression of chest from both sides forward, evening (also 6th d.). On 6th day pappy stool (also 7th d.); violent burning in left chest, sitting, e. On 7th day, searching pain in upper abdomen, with flatulence and sudden peevishness and irascibility of temper, towards e. On 8th day, after supper pressive searching pain under scrob. cordis, with general malaise. On 9th day, shifting twitchings in different parts of chest. On 10th and 11th day, startings in right upper eyelid; involuntary micturition during dreams (having omitted to pass urine in e.) (10th n.). For some weeks, every time he drinks, copious urination.
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.