5. a. Dr. VAN DE WARKER took mx of oil in syrup. There was immediate sense of heat in the stomach, and in about 15 m. sense of fulness of head and face, and the sense of warmth diffused itself over whole abdomen. In about 1/2 hours there was slight giddiness, and a marked diuretic action, urine having a strong tansy odour. The diuretic action continued during the n., obliging him to rise and urinate (very unusual.)
5 b. Two doses of 15 min. each were now taken at 4 hours interval. After 1st dose great heat of stomach and bowels, face flushed, and after about 15 m. very unpleasant sense of fulness within head. In 1/2 hours urine passed in increased quantity, high-coloured, with strong odour of drug; pulse 98, temp. 99.5 temp. 99.5. Flatulent eructations, tasting strongly of t. Urinated 3 times in the 4 h. After 2nd dose above symptoms were all renewed. also, in 20 m. ringing in ears and dizziness; in 1 h. pricking sensation in extremities, with flushes of heat;; strange fulness and sense of pressure of head, amounting to pain. In hours 20 m. urine produced slight scalding, and constant desire to micturate was present, but not strangury. In 2 hours there was thirst, and strong desire to draw a deep breath, which, however, did not relieve chest when drawn. Dizziness continued, but mind was quite clear. After 28th hours same symptoms, but dizziness and fulness diminished; pulse 115, temp. 100.5. After 3 1/4 hours some drowsiness, and in 15 m. more he went to bed, drowsy but restless, the pricking sensation coming and going over extremities and along spine; weight at stomach, breathing slightly oppressed, sense of uneasiness but not pain in head, still constant desire to urinate. (Criminal abortion BOSTON, 1872, p. 74)
6. women who have used the oil inform me hat they find a heat and fulness through the hips, which increase as they persist in its use, until finally they have a “show.” (Ibid., p.72
7. X. Y.Z., March 12th, 1833, took at 8:55 p. m. 10 dr. of oil on sugar. No apparent effect following, at 9:10 took 20 dr. more. He soon felt a slight flow in stomach, and sense as of thrill through frame. Pulse was fuller and less compressible than usual, but no faster. At 9:30 took 15 dr., 45 m. later 16 dr. more, then 17 and 20 dr., but with little effect save slight exhilaration, and two loose evacuations. Next m. felt well, save that abdomen seemed full of fluid as after a cathartic. Next day took of another and different specimen of oil 3ij in all during an home. Dizziness and confusion of mind set in, as after camphor. In 1 1/2 hours some nausea and tremor, but no vomiting. Feeling of confusion increased for 2 hours, remained stationary for 1 1/2 hours, and then began to subside. Two loose stools occurred. During operation of drug his voice had a strange sound in his ears. (Bost. Medorrhinum and sug. journ., x, 300).
Poisonings
1. Dr. CONANT was called to a young married woman, who had two children, youngest being 5 – 6 mo. old. she was in a semi- conscious state, complaining of “feeling bad,” of nausea, and of much pain in left side. Husband stated that she was in a “fit” when he has summoned the doctor. No cause could be found for this. She had a chill before it, and was now hot and feverish. Besides the left side pain, which extended from ribs to hip, she had severe occipito – frontal headache, backache, and pain in limbs. Aconite, followed by actaea rac. was given; but next day headache was worse, and face and eyes red, though back, limbs, and side were better. She was said by attendants to have had five “spasms.” Belladonna and nux v. were now given, and next day she was better in every way, and had only had one spasm. On the following day, however, she was worse again; and innocently asked if some tansy she had taken could have anything to do with her symptoms. It turned out that, suspecting pregnancy (about which she proved correct), she had taken several large doses of tansy to provoke abortion. this was now stopped; but the convulsions continued for 2 day more in spite of caulophyllum. Gelsemium then at once brought them down to one a day, and puls. removed even this. ( Hom. Journ. of Obstet., Nov., 1882.)
2. A young negress took, to produce abortion, a strong decoction. When seen 2 hours later, she was found with pulse a little retarded, but somewhat full; tongue natural; skin moist; breathing slightly embarrassed, 14; l pupils contracted; countenance dusky, immobile, with solemn look; answers to questions incoherent; indifferent; surface cool. four h later, coma; pulse 60, resp. 12; skin covered with cold clammy sweat; accumulation of mucus in larynx and trachea causing embarrassed breathing; general paralysis of voluntary muscles and of those of deglutition; vomiting of matters smelling of t. She died 24 hours after taking poison. ((PENDLETON, Amer. Medorrhinum Times, ii, 177.)
3. A young women took nearly 3iss of the oil as an abortifacient. She was found unconscious; cheeks bright red; eyes open and brilliant,, pupils dilated and immobile, sclerotic injected; skin warm; respiration hurried, laboured stertorous, embarrassed by accumulation of frothy mucus; pulse was full, strong, 128. At intervals of 5-10 m. there were violent convulsive attacks, during which head was drawn backwards, respiration suspended, arms raised and extended in tonic spasm, fingers contracted; then after some 30 seconds this tetanic state gave way to tremulous motion, often sufficient to shake room. The whole attack lasted about 1 1/2 m. until a deep inspiration announced its close. the tongue was occasionally bitten. After each attack face became pale and livid, and pulse was feeble and slow. Trismus persisted during intervals. She died 3 1/2 hours after taking poison. Autopsy was made 10 hours later. Rigidity marked; cadaveric patches little developed and of purplish red. Arachnoid dry; cranial cavity otherwise normal. L. ventricle strongly contracted; blood very liquid, having strong odour of T. Lungs normal. Gastric mucous membrane brownish at greater curvature, thinned, softened, and at one spot nearly destroyed. Spleen soft and bloodless. Uterus contained a 4 mo. foetus; all here and in ovaries quite normal. (DALTON, Am. Journ. of Medorrhinum Sci., 1852, i, 136.)
4. A woman, took 3ss of the oil. She was seized with spasms. which recurred about every 12 m. They were most violent rigid spasms not convulsions, coming on instantaneously and generally, and continuing about 1 m. There was no movement n arms, save a slight tremor; but these limbs were peculiarly affected, and always in the same way; they were thrown forward at a right angle with the body, hands similarly bent at wrists forearms supinated, points of fingers nearly in contact, fingers straight but slightly bent at juncture with hand. Muscles of respiration were strongly affected during each paroxysm; air was forced from chest slowly but steadily, and intermissions of spasms muscles were perfectly flexible; and transition was very sudden. trismus was more persistent than other spasms at same severity and duration. During Ist hours pupils were closely contracted, but afterwards much dilated. Respiration was laborious, not stertorous, most markedly so after a spasm. She died in 2 hours (HILDRETH, IBID, 1835, 1, 256.)
5. A married woman, aet. 28, accustomed to 5 dr doses of oil without inconvenience, now took 15-dr. Heat and burning in oesophagus ensued; after 3 dizziness and numbness, increasing almost to paralysis; then convulsions followed by vomiting. Pulse was 90, and pupils dilated. Severe pain was complained of in head. Coma ensued, with cataleptic condition of limbs and lasted for and. (BINKERD, Phil. Medorrhinum and surg. Rep., xxiii, 558.)
6. A boy, aet. 12, took 3ss of extract for worms. Great mobility, makes extraordinary movements and curious gestures, stretches himself, draws up his legs, stands on his head; when remonstrated with he says: “Leave me alone, it does me good; I cannot help doing it.” When he draws up his legs, and the muscles will not go farther he pulls them up with his hands and then suddenly stretches them out again. All the time he has no pains; it lasts 1/2 hours, and occurs with each respiration of the medicine. (HERING, Archiv, xiii, I, 170.).
Experiments on animals
1. In March, 1872, while making biological researches on a series of essences having isomeric relations, I had noticed one resembling in odour that of absinthe. It was the extract of a synanthema, the Tenacetum vulgare. this essence had been very little studied, chemically or biologically. Brylands has since obtained from it a kind of camphor, which, curiously enough, has the same atonic constitution as essence of absinthe and Japanese camphor, C20H1602. Putzeys, of Liege, has studied its properties; See Bull. de l’Acad. royale de Belgique, 1878, p.1101.–EDs but I can affirm that these are by no means co extensive with those of the essence from which it is extracted.
1 a. 4This is what I ascertained in 1872. When I injected 2 dr. of the essence into the veins of a rabbit of medium size, after 20 seconds the animal was seized with convulsions as suddenly and violently as if lightning – stuck. – the anal and vesical sphincters relaxed, and allowed the urine and faeces to escape. the spasmodic and hurried respiration (115 in the m.) was so embarrassed, that each instant one expected the animal to die of asphyxia. these convulsions became less intense for a few seconds, but then returned stronger than ever. A sound near the animal’s ear made him start as in poisoning by strychnine; evidently the sense of hearing was more acute. When a stick was brought hear his muzzle he bit at it with force, and could be lifted up without letting g his hold. This biting action was voluntary, and quite distinct from a convulsive movement of the jaws. the convulsions lasted 50 – 6 – m., or even longer if the doses were raised. If they were too strong the animal died asphyxiated. No higher dose could be borne than 3 – 4 dr. To the convulsive stage succeeded a comatose period 2 – 3 hours, during which the animal appeared insensible to every kind of stimulus. at last the normal state returned, and next day the animal appeared in no way affected by the violent attack he had undergone. Finally, we ascertained that the essence of tansy is rapidly eliminated unchanged, by the lungs, which leads to the supposition that it is oxygenated.
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.