7. a. F. LACKNER, student of medicine, 22 years old, of melancholic temperament and robust constitution, had dysentery when a boy, also scarlet fever and measles; was frequently affected with worms and toothache; and had a violent ophthalmia when he was 16, which left a great disposition to congestion to head and eyes, continuing to present time. For last 4 years left has enjoyed excellent health. 1844, Oct. 10th. – He commenced proving Thuja with 6 dr. of tinct., which he took i m. They caused eructations, colic towards noon, and diarrhoea. 11th. – 8 dr. had same effect. 12th. – 10 dr., after which colic became exceedingly painful; it diminished gradually after a copious evacuation. In hypogastrium prover experienced a sensation as of pressure, especially directly above symphysis pubis. 13th and 14th. – L. took 12 and 14 dr., and no medicine on 15th. On all those day colic was less, but sensation of pressure in hypogastrium from within outwards remained same. 16th and 17th. – 16 and 18 dr.; the colic and diarrhoea increased. 18th. – 20 dr.; had slight colic, and felt drowsy whole day 19th. – 25 dr., after which he experienced constant gurgling in bowels. 20th, 21st, and 22nd. – 30, 35 and 38 dr., which increased colic and diarrhoea. 23rd. – 40 dr. After lapse of 2 hours colic became so violent that he was scarcely able to stand straight, and had to sit with trunk bent forward. These pains lasted upwards of an hours, and diminished after a copious evacuation accompanied with emission of a quantity of flatulence. In evening pains became again more severe, without, however, reaching former degree of violence. He sleep wa restless and full of dreams. 24th. – No medicine was taken, colic abated, and sleep became more quiet. 25th and 26th. – 45 and 50 dr., which again brought on slight colic, which was considerably increased on 27th, after taking 55 dr. L. now discontinued proving for 3 d. On 28th the colic kept increasing, and disturbed even his sleep; it was accompanied with distension of abdomen and constipation. On 29th in m. he had eructations; towards 10 great nausea with accelerated pulse, debility of limbs as from weariness, and cold sweat over whole body. this condition improved during a walk, by raising a quantity of wind. Colic, on the contrary, increased until noon, but abated towards e. In m. and after dinner he had a copious fluid evacuation. in m., he had a scanty liquid evacuation; colic was very slight and appetite diminished. On 31st Oct. and on 1st Nov. he took 60 and 65 dr., which did not produce any symptoms, but on 2nd Nov., after taking 70 dr., he had again colic and diarrhoea, which became so violent on following day, after a dose of 75 dr., that he was scarcely able to stand straight at noon. While driving home, the colic, which was now accompanied with headache and chilliness, became more intolerable. After it had lasted almost an hours, it abated somewhat after a very copious liquid evacuation, which was accompanied with free emission of flatulence; but again increased towards e. Nov. 8th. – L. had continued taking the Thuja, increasing the dose by 5 dr. every day, so that at this date he took 100 dr. The most constant symptom was the colic, which increased from m. until noon, intermitted after dinner, but reappeared in evening and continued until midnight; this was accompanied with sensation of pressure in hypogastric region. 9th. – 110 dr. During day he had colic; in evening burning in eyelids with obscuration of sight; the sleep was interrupted and restless. The same symptoms appeared on 12th, after taking 140 dr. In evening pupils were dilated. On 13th no medicine was taken; 150 dr., which were taken on 14th, were not followed by any new symptoms. 15th. – 160 dr. After dinner he suddenly felt a shrill ringing in right ear, which, after a few hours, as suddenly felt a shrill ringing in right ear, which, after a few hours, as suddenly changed to dull buzzing and groaning, latter sensations gradually changing to a noise as of a bubbling liquid, which continued all n. In evening and n. he emitted a large quantity of flatulence and yellowish wine – coloured urine; his sleep was disturbed by voluptuous dreams; in m. he felt excessively drowsy, and was loth to leave the bed. No alvine evacuation. 16th. – 170 dr. The whole day he emitted a quantity of flatulence without any motion of bowels; his mood was especially cheerful; he slept quietly at n. 17th. – 180 dr. These caused emission of an excessive quantity of flatulence day and n. In m. he had scanty evacuation with some colic. 18th. – 190 dr., after which he had a scanty papescent stool (after dinner) and then violent burning at anus. In evening he had colic and emitted a quantity of flatulence. 19th and 20th. – 200 and 210 dr., which occasioned nothing but colic and a liquid evacuation. 21st. – 220 dr. These occasioned a papescent stool, a. m. In evening, moderate colic, and, during n., constant desire to urinate and emission of a large quantity of light yellow urine. Every urination was followed of a large quantity of light yellow urine. Ever urination was followed by violent burning pain in urethra, and in fundus of bladder. In m. he had a hard stool, and soon after violent colic. 22nd. – 230 dr., after which colic lasted all day, the desire to urinate likewise; the pain after urinating was, however, less. 23rd. – 240 dr., after which he discontinued drug until 30th. During this period of time he observed following symptoms: – every day, after dinner, a papescent stool, with emission of a quantity of flatulence; hoarseness and secretion of mucus in fauces, obliging him to spit; obscuration of sight with dilation of pupils and burning of eyelids. 30th. – 150 dr., after which he discontinued drug until 7th Dec. The same symptoms appeared as on previous day, but in a less degree, an they disappeared, finally, altogether. Dec. 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. – 260, 270, 280, and 290 dr. The only symptoms occasioned by these doses was slight colic. 12th. – 300 dr. At noon he felt slight colic; in evening he suddenly felt violent pain in whole abdomen, as if all the bowels were pulled towards point behind umbilicus. This was accompanied with distension of abdomen, headache and accelerated pulse. This colic lasted 6 hours, and abated gradually after a liquid evacuations accompanied with distension of abdomen, headache and accelerated pulse. This colic lasted 6 hours, and abated gradually after a liquid evacuation accompanied by emission of a large amount of flatulence. 13th. – 310 dr. Colic continued until evening; on 14th, after taking 320 dr., he experienced all day occasional shooting stitches in abdomen. Took no medicine on 15th and 16th, and had no symptoms. From 17th to 24th Dec. inclusive, left took a dose daily, increasing every dose by 10 dr., so that on the last day he took 400 dr. The symptoms elicited were meagre and one-sided. He was attacked with colic every day, noon and evening, which increased from day to day, and became extremely violent on 23rd Dec. (as on 3rd Nov.). Colic abated considerably on the emission, during a walk, of a considerable quantity of flatulence upwards and downwards, and after a copious liquid evacuation at noon. P.m. and evening he occasionally suffered for sticking, gurgling, rumbling and shifting of flatulence in abdomen, and he had a sleepless, restless n. 24th. – These symptoms abated; on the 2 subsequent day, when left took no medicine, he complained of nothing but debility. 27th and 28th. – 410 and 420 dr. did not occasion any new symptoms; on the following day, 430, 440 and 450 dr. occasion any new symptoms; than constant rumbling and shifting of flatulence in abdomen, accompanied with shooting stitches in all pats of body.
7 b. Persuaded that the Thuja had been prevented from manifesting its proper effects upon the organism by the rapid succession of large doses, left discontinued proving for a few day, and even during first days of Jan., 1845, perceived traces of the last – named symptoms. Jan. 8th and 9th. – No symptoms being any longer observed, left took 460 and 470 dr. without any results. 10th. – 480 dr. 2 hours after taking drug, he had eructations, desire to vomit, and a peculiar feeling of qualmishness in pit of stomach; these symptoms continued until midnight, and were accompanied with constipation, restless sleep, and vivid dreams. 11th and 12th. – 490 and 500 dr., which occasioned following symptoms: – drawing and tearing in pericranium, at times in vertex, at times in occiput; one scanty stool every day; confused dreams about the most absurd things. One evening of last day burning and stinging in both eyes and eyelids, with injection of cornea; these symptoms continued on 13th after taking 510 dr. 14th and 15th no medicine was taken. On waking on 14th he was for a long time unable to open his eyelids. They were painful and closed again involuntarily. After rising he felt debilitated all over, especially in upper arms and thighs; clouds and streaks (muscae volitantes) were hovering before his eyes whole day, accompanied with indistinctness of sight, which continued next d. On 16th and 17th, 520 and 530 dr. occasioned warm feeling in region of stomach; 540 dr., which he took on 18th, occasioned feeling of qualmishness, eructations, and emission quantity of flatulence. No medicine was taken from 19th Jan. until 6th Feb. inclusive. On first day region of stomach was very sensitive, even to least pressure, especially in evening; there was frequent and continuous rising of wind from stomach, and continual emissions of copious flatulence from rectum. These symptoms gradually abated on following days, and finally ceased entirely. Feb. 7th and 8th. – 550 and 560 dr.; the only result obtained was eructations tasting of resin, accompanied with aversion to drug, which became so invincible that he had to conclude his provings after having taken 15,920 dr. of the undiluted tinct. in the space of 122 day (Ibid.)
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.