6. A vigorous negro, et. 18, was bitten about 10 a.m. by a large tarentula [ The tarentula of the Southern States of the American Union is recognised species.-EDS] above left knee. He immediately yelled and fell down; was carried to house in agonies. Complained of terrible smarting pain, cold and hot, from bite to small of back and thence to bite again; this alternating pain continued until n. His neck felt sore, painful swallowing; excessive headache all over; eyes glaring, red; at 6 p.m. throat began to swell externally. Under lachesis relief was obtained; the boy slept all night; next day leg was a little stiff, not swollen. (HARDENSTEIN, Am. Journ. of Hom. Mat. Medorrhinum, iv, 106.)
7. Francis Mustel, a peasant, was about the beginning of July stung in left hand by a tarentula, as he was gathering ears of corn. He went home with his companions; but on the way he fell down suddenly, as one struck with apoplexy. Then came on difficulty of breathing, and his face, hands, and feet became dark. His companions, knowing the cause of his illness, fetched musicians; and when the patient heard their playing he began to revive, to sigh, to move first his feet, then his hands, and then the whole body; at last getting on his feet, he took to dancing violently, with sighs so laboured that the bystanders were almost frightened; at times he rolled himself upon the ground, and struck it vehemently with his feet. Two hours after the music began, the blackness of his face and hands went off; and so, having gone through the dancing in the usual manner, and having sweated freely, he regained perfect health. Every year, about the time he was stung, the pain in the part affected returns with all the symptoms just mentioned, but less violent; and unless the imminent paroxysm is averted (which it always can be) by music and dancing, he is seized by it all of a sudden, so that about the expected time he is often found by his friends struck down in the fields by the deadly disease, when, music being brought, he is soon cured. (BAGLIVI, Opium omnia, 1718, p. 631.)
8. The tarentula cubensis (Arana peluda, hairy spider) belongs to the same family, genus, and species as the tarentula of Spain. Yet, though apparently alike, these spiders differ widely in their pathogenetic and therapeutic effects. The t. hispania is a nervous remedy, acting deeply and powerfully on the cerebro-spinal system; and many cases of chorea, hysteria, &c., have been cured by this precious agent. The t. cubensis, on the other hand, seems to be a toxemic remedy acting directly on the blood. The bite itself is painless, so much so that persons bitten in the n. are not sensible of it until the next d., when they discover an inflamed pimple surrounded by a scarlet areola; from the pimple towards some other part of the body a red erysipelatous line is seen, marking the course followed by the spider over the skin after biting – so corrosive is the nature of this virus. The pimple swells, the inflamed areola spreads wider and wider; chills, followed by intense burning fever, generally supervene on 2nd or 3rd d., accompanied by great thirst, anxiety, restlessness, headache, delirium, copious perspiration, and retention of urine. The pimple in the meantime grows larger, and becomes a hard, large, and exceedingly painful abscess, ending by mortification of the integuments over it, and having several small openings discharging a thick sanious matter containing pieces of mortified cellular tissue, fasciae, and tendons; the openings, by growing, run into each other, forming large cavities. At this period, the fever takes the intermittent type, with evening paroxysms, accompanied by diarrhoea and great prostration. I have known two cases in delicate children where the bite proved fatal; but the majority of cases recover after a period of from 3 to 6 weeks. (Dr. NAVARRO, of Cuba, Hom. Times, March, 1879.).
Experiments on animals
1. In dissecting a rabbit which had died from the bite of a tarentula, Baglivi observed that the cerebral veins were much injected and the substance attacked with a slight inflammation, specked here and there with livid points. At the same time a large quantity of serum was effused over the brain. (Opium cit, p. 626.) 2. Prof. LANCERI, of Naples, in order to test the truth of the stories relating to tarentulism, procured some large and furious specimens and first experimented on fowls, pigeons, a tortoise, and a rabbit. Finding that no special symptoms were exhibited by these lower animals after being bitten by the spider, he looked around for some friend obliging enough to undergo the trial; such an one presented himself in the person of Prof. Gossi. He allowed the spider to bite his left hand, but nothing resulted except some pain and swelling. The old stories, therefore, are clearly mere fiction. [ It is a fact now perfectly demonstrated that the tarentula has not the power, of causing the whole ensemble of the phenomena attending its bites, save in the dog-days.” (OZANAM, op. cit., 50-1) ] (Gaz. Medorrhinum Ital., 1878.).
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.