28. D. B -, aet. 5, ate 2 or 3 seeds about 7 p. m. In 1/2 hour face and chest were of a coppery-red colour, somewhat mottled; white of eyes was pink. Seen at 9, left eye was observed to be most reddened, and eruption was visible on left knee but not on right; an old cicatrix on forehead was very red. He complained of head hurting him, and of itching of skin; was inclined to smile and jest; pupils dilated; pulse hard and frequent. Later, great restlessness with moaning, tossing to and fro in bed, throwing about arms and legs (especially arms), with opening and shutting of hands and many movements of fingers; he repeatedly said there were “big sores” on him. When he slept, there was frequent starting, rising up in bed, and vacantly looking round, with incoherent talking. On waking in m. complained of being tired; got up and went to bed again 2 or 3 times; swelling of left cheek and left face generally. No appetite for breakfast; very irritable, fretful, and quarrelsome; weak; in. e. dry spasmodic cough, recurring next m., when he had dark colour round eyes. He continued irritable and fretful for 6 weeks. (WILLIAMSON, Am. Hom. Rev., iv, 560.)
29. A man, aet. 44, had applied the bruised green leaves one n. to some irritable ulcers on legs. Dr. Dunham was called in haste early next m., as patient was “not right in his mind.” He found him dressed and lying on a sofa. He recognized the doctor, and apologized for not rising, saying that his legs were not under his control. His face was covered with patches of irregular shape, not elevated, of a brilliant fiery red. Conjunctiva was injected; pupils immensely dilated; whole expression of eye was brilliant, restless, suspicious, and roving. Brow was corrugated; tongue moist; papillae enlarged and projecting through a soft white fur; legs motionless, but arms constantly reaching forwards and upwards with an uncertain tremulous motion, as if endeavouring to seize something in the air. Suddenly he exclaimed, “There are those bugs! help me to catch them; ” and, on being asked his meaning, said, “There! a long train of bed bugs, and after them a procession of beetles, and here comes crawling over me a host of cockroaches.” Then – “I believe I know they are not really bugs; but, except once in a while, they seem real to me. “This scene was many times repeated. The cataplasm was now found and removed, and the symptoms gradually subsided. (CARROLL DUNHAM, Ibid., p. 561.)
30. SCHRON treated several cases of prosopalgia with Str. In one man 1/2 gr. doses of extr. caused dysphagia with dryness of throat (which frequent draughts of water failed to relieve), stupefaction, and frequent passing of sparks of light across field of vision. Another patient spoke of these as balls of fire rolling over the counterpane of his bed. In another, a girl of 16, 6 – 9 dr. doses of tinct. caused same symptoms of throat and eyes. In a third, a sensitive woman of 42, gr. 1/4 of extr. at 4 and gr. 1/8 at 6 p. m. developed the sparks of light, unusual thirst, and considerable prostration. She went to bed, passed a tolerable n., and in m. took another 1/4 gr. About 3/4 after this she felt across transverse colon a drawing changing into a tearing-asunder feeling; as this subsided a little there was a sort of hunger, but patient was unable to take any food. Head now felt full and as if bursting; there was loud roaring in ears, and hearing was nearly lost, though she could understand very well what she heard; sparks of light occasionally crossed field of vision, from above downwards; there was great throbbing in temples, especially right, and redness of face, without heat there or in head; nose was dry and redder than usual, and she could not smell; taste as of pus in mouth; dryness and burning in throat (without dysphagia), and intense thirst, unrelieved by the large draughts of water she took; resp. slow and feeble. A little later, very fine but sharp stitches at small spot about 5th – 6th ribs, increased by inspiration; tearing in bowels returned very severely, and was followed by several broth – like evacuations, which gave much ease; there was increasing debility and dejection, patient feeling as if she would certainly die. In 5 hours time she fell into a comfortable sleep, and awoke a few hours later, feeble, but free from all symptoms. The dejection and debility lasted some days longer. (Hygea, xiii, 193.)
31. Dr. BREE observed pathogenetic effects in 24 patients who smoked Str. for asthma. Of these, 3 experienced paralytic tremblings, and their pulse was so lowered that it became difficult to feel the beating of the artery. One had smoked a few times only when her head became affected with pain and confusion and her stomach with sickness. She was next seized with an epileptic fit, the first she had ever experienced. This attack was followed by three more of the same kind at intervals of a few hours, and she became nearly insensible, pulse scarcely perceptible, stools and urine passing involuntarily. Another found his (habitual) cough cause so much pain in the head as to threaten danger; another had intolerable headache with dimness of sight; another an attack of pneumonic inflammation. (SIGMOND, loc. cit.)
32. I have in no instance found any bad effects from it, excepting a disordered state of vision, in which every object appears coloured with rainbow tints. (Ibid.)
33. Among the anomalous symptoms of poisoning by Str. is one observed in the case of a man to whom all black objects appeared to be green. (STILLE, op. cit.)
34. Dr. TRUMAN ABELL, while preparing an extract of leaves, kept his right hand and wrist soaked in the juice. “On becoming warm in the bed I felt a host of new sensations creeping over both body and mind. My whole frame was affected with a tremulous vibration, most sensibly felt through the abdomen, attended with a prickly sensation over the whole body. My mind became extremely timorous and restless, which caused all attempts to compose myself to sleep fruitless. After a teaspoonful of elixir of paregoric I felt every symptom getting worse; the surface was bathed in a clammy perspiration; whenever I attempted to close my eyes I was assailed by imaginary spectres, in the most hideous forms and menacing attitudes; and, what was still more to my torment, my bed seemed suspended like a feather between two floors.” There was a general smoky appearance of the atmosphere. R. pupil much dilated, left natural. (Amer. Medorrhinum Rec., 1828, p. 203; from ALLEN.).
Experiments on animals
I. 3vj of an acid solution, prepared from 20 gr. of the oil, were given to a rabbit. In 2 m. the animal was obviously affected; in 5 1/2 m. it fell on its side and could not rise, though it made violent and repeated efforts to do so. In 13 m. it was seized with convulsive stretching and severe tremors of the limbs, accompanied with retraction of head; in 15 m. with violent convulsions, succeeded by laborious breathing and total insensibility. It died in 19 1/2 m. Heart continued to contract for 17 m. after death. The oil from which the sol. was prepared was given to another rabbit and caused vertigo. (MORRIES, Ed. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., xxxix, 377.)
2. SALISBURY gave to a large full – grown male cat, which had not eaten since 4 p. m. the previous day, 60 dr. of tinct. at 2.14 p. m. In 2 m. began frothing slightly at mouth, and in 2 m. more sneezing and coughing. 2.23, vomited gently frothy liquid of greenish-yellow colour; pupils dilating. 2.27, thrusts tongue out between teeth, and opens and shuts them on it; tongue red and apparently swollen. Frothing has ceased; anxious to crawl off into some secluded place; mewing. 2.36, discharge of urine; mewing and uneasy. 2.42, lying on chest and abdomen; quiet; perfectly conscious of what is passing; he staggered when walking. Remained in this state till 3, when he got up and walked about, mewing. 3.7, lay down with head between for-paws, as if asleep, remaining thus till 3.17; woke up uneasy; walked about mewing till 3:30, thence quiet and drowsy. 3:40, gave 60 dr. more. He swallowed most of it, and passed urine 2 m. after. After 5 m. walking stupidly round, mewing; considerable vertigo; pupils dilated. 3:50, vertigo increases, can hardly walk; uneasy; sight dim. Continued in this state till 4.5, when he became quiet, lay down, and slept; breathing easy. At 4:15 vomited easily a quantity of greenish gelatinous fluid, which aroused him. 4:20, uneasy; walking about, mewing; running against objects; blind. At 4:30 became quiet, and fell asleep. 4:35, gave 40 dr. more. in 2 m. urination; very uneasy; mewing constantly; quite blind; cannot walk without falling over from side to side; breathing laboured. This uneasiness lasted till 4:50, when he became quiet, apparently sleeping; pulse slow, heavy and feeble. 5, woke up very uneasy, endeavoured to walk about. 5.5, gave 40 dr. more. In 2. became quite unconscious, breathing laboured. After 5 m. aroused; anxious, mewing, unable to stand. In 10 m. comatose, lying on one side, pupils very much dilated. In 15 m. moving round in a circle, mewing; resp. 60. 5.33, gave 40 dr. more. In 2 m., lying on side, comatose; breathing laboured 48. 5:40 still comatose; legs in constant motion, fore and hind limbs of each side moving together alternately with their fellows. 5:55, pulse 50, breathing heavy. 5.58, pulse 40, feeble; comatose. 6:15, same; resp. 40. 6:30, same; gave 30 dr. more. After a short struggle he fell down comatose; heart’s beating slow, heavy, and feeble, breathing heavy and difficult. Continued thus till 7.6, when motion of limbs ceased; resp. ceased at 7:50 P. M., 55 m. after. – Limbs relaxed and limber; general venous fullness; bladder full; intestines, distended with gas, presented a knotted appearance, slight congestion in jejunum and ileum; kidneys very much congested; lungs the same, filled with dark blood and frothy mucus; heart quite empty; venae cavae filled with dark blood, which contains considerable clot; from fauces to esophagus mucous membrane is very white and pearly; brain slightly congested, vessels all full and slight effusion in ventricles, considerable congestion of membranes. (Am. Journ of Medorrhinum Sc., N. S., xliv, 427.)
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.