14. Dr. HAMMOND was not in the habit of using tobacco in any form. He made two series of experiments, one when a sufficiency of food was taken to keep up the weight and vigour of the body; the other when the ailment was insufficient.
14 a. Having first ascertained his normal averages for 5 days., from another 5 days he smoked 150 gr. of T. (nearly two cigars) after each meal. As result, his weight increased an average of 0.7 lb., carbonic acid of breath 88.04 gr., free acid of urine, 4.93 gr., uric acid 5.88 gr., phosphoric acid 28.83 gr., and sulphuric acid 4.41 gr. On the other hand, aqueous vapour decreased by 299.46 gr., faeces.01 oz., urine 1.87 oz., urea 43.37 gr., and chlorine 23.04 gr. “The general effects upon my system,” he writes, “were exceedingly well marked. There was great nervous excitement accompanied by irregular action of muscles, more particularly of eyelids, mouth and lower extremities, which lasted for about 2 hours on each occasion of using the substance. The mind, however, was clear, and there was no headache. These sensations were succeeded by a pleasant feeling of ease and contentment, which also lasted about 2 hours. During the first part of the night there was wakefulness, but this was always followed by a sound sleep, which continued till the hour for rising. The pulse was increased (from 85 to an average of 92 per m. The appetite was as good as usual. The perspiration was apparently diminished.”
14 b. After allowing 5 days to elapse, H – cut down his bread from 18 to 12 oz. daily, and his meat from 16 to 10 oz., in other respects conditions being same. After another 5 days of observation without tobacco, for same period he smoked as before. The loss of weight induced by the insufficient supply of food was lessened from the first and entirely overcome by the 4th days. Excretion of carbonic acid from lungs was not perceptibly affected. Amount of aqueous vapour was reduced 159.94 gr., faeces 1.92 oz., urine 1.51 oz., urea 62.54 gr., chlorine 15 gr. Free acid of urine was increased 3.03 gr., uric acid 4.52 gr., phosphoric acid 30.23 sulphuric acid 8:35. The general effects on the system were almost identical with those previously observed. (Amer. Journ of Medorrhinum, Sc., N. S., xxxii, 316.).
Poisonings
1. A woman of 40, and 3 girls aet. 18,18 and 12 respectively, These will be described as a, b, c, d respectively drank coffee the beans of which had lain among fragments of tobacco leaves, exposed for some day in warm rainy weather. Hardly had the coffee been drunk, when b suddenly complained of vertigo, fell unconscious from her chair, and was convulsed. At the same movement c was attacked with vertigo, nausea, trembling of limbs and inability to hold herself erect, but did not altogether lose consciousness and felt giddy, and vomited contents of stomach, after which she continued to feel languid and prostrate, with pale yellowish – grey complexion. The woman herself was but little affected, though she had drunk the largest quantity. b, whose health had generally been good, and who was of small stature and sanguine temp., was now lying on floor with flushed but cool cheeks, violent throbbing carotids, distended jugulars, eyes, staring and drawn upwards, pupils dilated and fixed, injected conjunctiva, head bent backwards as if by tetanic spasm, slow breathing, slow, hard and full pulse (60), cold feet and finger – tips; she was generally quiet save that extremities were occasionally moved by clonic spasms, head remaining tetanically drawn. She was quite unconscious. Pressure on abdomen with flat hand seemed to excite the spasms. c, a stolid phlegmatic girl, sat on a chair supported arms were hanging down relaxed, head inclining backwards; face had a dingy yellow colour; eyes were closed but could be easily opened; every now and then she trembled all over, half moaning, half groaning; pulse 100, of unequal strength, apparently full but really soft and large; carotids throbbed violently; resp. was hurried and anxious. She could just answer question; and it was thus ascertained that she felt violent palpitation with synchronous throbbing in head, buzzing in ears, dryness and scraping in throat, but no nausea or pain in stomach or bowels.
All made a good recovery (Frank’s Mag.; i, 107.)
2. a. An insane man, aet 26, swallowed over 3ss of dry T. He was insensible and motionless, in complete resolution; resp. was feeble; pulse barely perceptible; pupils closely contract. He was placed in a warm bath. After 1/2 hour he had violent tetanic convulsions, and abundant alvine evacuations containing the debris of tobacco – leaves. The stomach – pump was used, without more than the slightest effect on the symptoms; but the pupils became dilated. The convulsive attacks were renewed, accompanied by vomitings and by mucous and bloody stools. Tetanic stiffness with trismus became more and more pronounced; pulse was always frequent, filiform, nearly imperceptible; heart – beats irregular. Pupils had again contracted and gave no response to light. These symptoms continued for about 7 hours, and patient died in syncope.
2b. P. m., 40 hours after death. Cadaveric rigidity very pronounced. Medulla oblongata and encephalic mass much congested, as were also liver and kidneys. Gastric mucous membrane showed on all its surface a number of ecchymotic spots; intestines were contracted, and their mucous lining vividly injected at places. Bladder was contracted, and empty. Blood everywhere black and semi – fluid. (SKAE, Ed. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., 1855 – 6, p. 643.)
3. A girl of 18, for constipation, took an enema of about 3iij of common shag T. boiled in Oz of water. After 1/2 hour she was seized with faintings and sickness, and fell into profound collapse. The face was pale, the skin covered with cold sweat. She vomited several times, had slight convulsions, and died 1.1/2 hours after the injection. The heart was found flaccid and empty. No redness in stomach or intestines. (EADE, lancet, 1849, ii, 480.)
4. A woman of 23, affected with itch, prepared a decoction of 3 oz. of T. leaves with which she soaked compresses and wrapped them round arms and legs on going to bed. After 3 hours she felt a shudder through out body, which was followed by nausea and violent vomiting with spasms in extremities and even in muscles of back. These symptoms had continued from 1 to 4 a. m., when a physician arrived. Pulse was small and very frequent, face deathly pale; patient vomited pure blood in doctor’s presence, and had vomited a large quantity of it before. There was no blood in faeces. The compresses were at once removed, and she wa bled. After vomiting (of mucus only) 3 times she was soon restored; but had a weak stomach and no appetite for a fortnight longer. (( Frank’s Mag., i, 784.)
5. A man and his wife applied largely, for itch, a decoction of 60 grm. of T to 3 litres of water. This was at 8:30 p. m. They then went to bed. – the woman having experienced during the application some headache and vertigo. In 1/4 hour symptoms of poisoning showed themselves, and Dr. Blanchard was called. He found the husband in bed; his face pale, covered with viscid sweat; he was in a stupor from which it was difficult to rouse him; he complained of violent pain at stomach, of excessive cold, and of frequent desire to micturate. Surface was of ochre colour; limbs trembled; he had cramps in various parts, making him cry out, and spoke deliriously. There was constant parts, making him cry out, and spoke deliriously. There was constant retching vomiting, and dejections recalling by their aspect those of cholera. Pulse was small, slow, miserable. The women was able to assist in attending on her husband. She said that she had begun by feeling oppressed, stupid, benumbed, and then had been seized with vomiting and purging. Her husband, thinking her worse than himself, endeavoured to get up; but fell like a drunken man, saying that all went round with him. He managed, however, to call his neighbors to their help.
By means of coffee and other stimulants, and washing the kin, the husband was revived; but a measle-like eruption occurred in both. (BLANCHARD, Bull. gen. de. Theridion, ixxvi 525.)
6. MR. HOWISON embarked on board of a sloop in one of the ports of Cuba. He went to sleep in the cabin, which was full of large packages; but was harassed by wild and frightful dreams and suddenly awaked about midnight, bathed in a cold dew, and totally unable to speak or move. He knew perfectly where he was, and recollected everything that had occurred the previous day; but could not make any bodily effort whatever, and tried in vain to get up or change his position. “Four bells” was struck on deck, and he heard the sounds (though rather, as it seemed, through their vibrating in his body than by the ears); and he was conscious of other things that occurred, – so that he was not dreaming. At length he became totally insensible, and continued so till an increase of wind made the sea a little rough, and the ship began to roll: this roused him and he contrived to get upon deck. His memory was totally lost for about 1/4 hour; he knew that he was in a ship, but nothing more. While in this state he observed a man drawing water from the sea in buckets, and requested him to pour one on his head. On the seaman’s doing so, all his faculties were immediately restored; and he acquired a most vivid recollection of a vast variety of ideas and events which appeared to have passed through his mind, and to have occupied him during the time of his supposed insensibility.
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.