8. J. LANDESMANN, chief physician to a battalion of grenadiers, made two experiments upon himself with Thuja.
8 a. The unquestionable effects which L. had experienced from a few dr. of 1st dil. of bryonia induced him to commence the proving of Thuja with the smallest doses of the higher dils., and to descend by gentle degrees to the lower. After he had discontinued taking bryonia for 3 weeks, and had felt free from any drug – symptoms for 2, he took, from 4th to 20th Sept., 1844, regularly every m., 1 hours before a milk breakfast, 3 globules moistened with 27th dil. of Thuja (1.100) prepared by himself 5 years before. Sept. 4th and 5th. – L. remarked no change in his sensations. 6th. A.m., drawing tearing in right arm, lasting several hours 7th. – Same sensation. 8th. – Drawing, sticking pains in right index and middle fingers. 9th. – Renewal of the drawing tearing in right arm, in morning; later, at about 10:30, debility and lameness in right forearm, and violent trembling of right hand, in which the veins swelled without an apparent cause. This appearance lasted 1/2 hours, and disappeared while writing. 10th. – Violent itching on different parts of skin, particularly on breast, with sensation as if skin at those spots was pierced with many very fine needles, which irresistibly obliged him to scratch. On evening of same day there came on, without cause, a hay cold preceded by dulness of head and frequent sneezing. 11th. – At 10 a. m. sticking pain in ring – finger of left hand; towards noon stinging itching on breast again, and on both sides of neck, and at 9 p. m. drawing pains in left shin – bone. 12th. – A slight pain was observed in right side of pharynx, extending to ear, somewhat aggravated by swallowing. 13th. – The morning pain in neck and entirely disappeared, but returned p. m., with feeling of dryness and increased thirst, and wholly vanished again in e. Remaining days presented no new symptoms. It is particularly to be remarked, however, that the catarrh was troublesome through the whole of this proving, an had this peculiarity, that it often completely disappeared for hours together, and then suddenly returned without cause, with renewed severity, an with much sneezing. From 20th to 28th left took every m. 6 globules moistened with 6th dil., which had no other effect that they seemed to sustain the still continuing catarrh. From 29th Sept. to 3rd Oct. L. took again the 27th dil. and of this 5 dr. every m., but without effect. Oct. 4th, 5th, and 6th. – He took every m. 5, and from the 7th to 17th 10 dr. of 6th dil. Whereupon, besides the still continuing catarrh, the following symptoms appeared: 5th. – P. m., cutting pains in vesica for some m. 6th. – In m., sticking cutting pains in left side of neck, as far as left ear, which soon disappeared again. 7th. – P. m., drawing pain in left middle finger. 8th. – Repeated drawings in left great toe. and at n. lascivious dreams with a pollution. From 9th to 12th, except the constant catarrh, no symptoms. 13th. – Dryness in throat; soreness of chest, with aggravated catarrh, and in n. confused lascivious dreams. 14th. – In m. and at noon feeling of stoppage in left ear, with diminished power of hearing, each time lasting several m. 15th. – In m. distinct violent stitches from anus into region of left iliac bone. 16th. – At various times drawing in left little finger. From 18th to 22nd Oct., left took, every m., 15, and from the 22nd to 29th 30 dr. of 1st dil. 18th. – the catarrh, which had remitted, became worse, with frequent sneezing. Afterward on the same day, p. m., a sharp lancinating pain in left frontal eminence, and soon after, sharp tearings in inside of right ankle. 19th. – There were perceived, at several times, tearings in little finger or right hand, and in evening dulness of head in front. 20th. – Frequent quiverings of lower lid of left eye. 21st. – Again, frequent quiverings of same eyelid; further, drawing in little finger in right hand, and restless sleep with lascivious dreams. The following days passed without symptoms. But on 26th frequent quiverings came on p. m. and in evening – pulse – like jerks in muscles of right arm, especially in deltoid. L. was, also, the whole day a uselessly excited and inclined to be angry, contrary to all his previous habits. 28th. – At about 10:30 a. m., while walking, he wa attacked with such deadly hunger that he came near fainting, and was obliged, at a very unwonted time, to eat something in a neighboring tavern. This symptom made the more impression on him, as it was repeated in evening of same and of following d. He had likewise, in right nostril, a feeling of soreness or ulceration, which was aggravated by pressure upon the ala, but disappeared on following day 29th. – L. took 40 dr. of 1st dil., but was prevented by circumstances from pursuing experiment from that d. No further symptoms developed themselves which could be attributed to the drug. The catarrh lasted until middle of December, and prover has much less hesitation in ascribing it to power of drug, because a catarrh had never lasted him so long before.
8 b. Feb. 1st, left began a new experiment with the tinct., of which he took on the 1st day 10 dr. and increased the dose daily by 5 dr., so that on the 15th of the month he had reached 80, and had taken in whole 675 dr. Not the slightest change in his feelings followed any dose of the tincture. (Ibid.)
9. Dr. and Prof. LIEDBECK, from Upsala, aged 42, of a sanguineo – bilious temperament and narrow build, often suffering from catarrhs and haemorrhoids, made an experiment with Thuja during his resident ein Vienna.
1844, Sept. 14th, he took, at about 5 p. m., a teaspoonful of the undiluted tincture. Thereafter, eructations with the taste of the remedy and, an hours later, transient pain in forehead and in left side of the face, a sort of twitching. – 15th. After having taken 60 dr. in m., eructations tasting of the drug, then a repeated transitory stitch in left frontal eminence, and a sensation of dryness in mouth; after another 60 dr. taken the same afternoon, a gloomy, melancholy state of mind came on, which was still apparent on waking next m. 16th. – 70 dr.; followed by eructations, strong aversion to meat, which had already been perceived on preceding day difficult swallowing, with any apparent cause in the throat, stitches in both sis of thorax under mammae, both during respiration and when not respiring. The melancholy frame of mind continued. These symptoms disappeared in course of following day, excepting the stitches in thorax, which often returned and did not seem to be connected with the respiration. 25th. – L. took 140 dr. of tinct. Eructations followed, and a feeling as though perspiration was about to break out. 26th. – The same symptoms followed a like dose. It is to be observed, that the prover thinks that he passed more urine during the experiment than at other times. The departure of our northern brother in the faith unfortunately prevented the further prosecution of the experiment. (Ibid.)
10. Dr. MASCHAUER instituted two experiments upon himself with the Thuja.
10 a. 1844, Sept. 21st, M. began the proving with 10 dr. of tinct. taken early, fasting. He perceived no effects but an unpleasant taste. 22nd and 23rd. – Each day 10 dr.; followed p. m. of 1st day by rumbling in abdomen with emission of flatulence, copious limpid urine and constipation; on 2nd day, scraping in throat and inclination to cough. P. m., the uvula seemed to be lengthened, and tonsils were vividly reddened, but swallowing was not worse. 24th and 25th. – 30 dr.; on 1st day dryness of palate with inclination to cough, sidelong stitch in lower half of left chest; in evening aching in forehead with failure of sight; at n. frequent urination. On following day, continued scraping in throat with frequent cough; the headache and increased urination also persisted, and were accompanied by a stitch in left testicle. 26th. – 40 dr.; scraping in throat much less; at noon, a double stitch in chest; want of appetite with great thirst and dryness of mouth; at n. copious urine, with itchings in urethra. 27th. – When nothing had been taken restless sleep, interrupted by straining cough; the urine continued copious. 28th. – M. took 50 dr., and discontinued the dose for two days. Effects, nauseous taste; eructations with smell of Thuja; frequent hawking with sensation as if throat were sore, continuing whole 3 d. In evening, headache in vertex, remaining until midnight; itching in urethra when urinating; restless nights. Oct. 2nd and 3rd. – M. took on each day 60 dr. on an empty stomach. On 1st day frequent hawking with cough; p. m., stitches in lower part of left breast, and debility, with feeling as if beaten in limbs. On 2nd day, soon after taking dose, dryness of tongue; throughout day much thirst and itching in anus; in evening considerable headache which lasted until midnight; constipation. On 3rd day, itching in anus passing into a severe burning after a hard evacuation; scraping in throat compelling him to cough, accompanied by itching in urethra. During the whole 3 day frequent and copious urine, especially at n. 4th and 5th. – M. rested. The itching in anus occurred at times in both days, and evacuations were absent. 6th. – 70 dr. The itching in anus and the hawking and cough again became worse, – the latter with oppression of chest, which seemed somewhat to embarrass breathing; also copious urine, hard stool, and restless sleep. 7th and 8th. – 80 dr. each d. On evening of 1st day, a repeated, violent stitch in left side of chest; on both day, frequent raising of mucus with cough and reddened tonsils, without pain; disagreeable itchings in urethra and anus. 9th. – After taking 100 dr., lasting pressing headache in forehead with burning in eyes, which were pained by light. Continuance of itching in anus and redness of tonsils; copious urine, failure of an evacuation (M. was accustomed to have a regular passage every m.), and a restless n. On the 3 following day he took no medicine, and the above symptoms, except occasionally itching in anus, disappeared. 13th. – M. took again 100 dr. P. m., itching through the whole urethra during urination, and headache on awaking after a restless n. 14th. – 120 dr. The headache continued all d. P. m., a violent stitch in left side of chest, increased by inspiration. Afterward, a hard evacuation with subsequent burning in anus; urine was copious, rest good. 15th. – 140 dr. Two hours after, a violent evacuation with bellyache and burning in anus; in evening, headache in forehead; at n., another evacuation and rumbling in abdomen; also, general debility and copious urine, with itchings in urethra. 16th. – 140 dr. Shifting of flatulence with constipation; scraping in the throat with cough; in evening, headache followed by a restless n. During the 3 following day, no medicine being taken, evacuations became again regular, but urine remained increased, and sleep was restless. 20th. – After taking 160 dr., no evacuation, but a strong urging towards it, with itching in anus and into urethra; urine still copious; in evening headache, which lasted until about midnight; after that, quiet sleep. 21st. – Another 160 dr. (taken fasting and diluted with water, as was always done); swelling in region of stomach, diminished by emissions of flatulence; p. m., a hard stool and itching during urination; in evening, return of headache. On the 2 following day no dose was taken, and no symptoms were perceived. 24th. – 180 dr. were followed by these symptoms: – uneasiness in region of stomach with eructations of the drug; scraping in throat with frequent cough; p. m., headache with burning in right eye, which disappeared on repeatedly washing it with cold water; copious urine, especially at n. 25th. – M. closed his proving of the tinct. with 200 dr. After 2 hours, a sudden debility with pain in calves; then internal chill in whole body, with dry and hot skin, which compelled him to lie down. He could not, however, keep warm in bed, and the debility increased to such a degree that he could with difficulty move his limbs. At about 10 p. m. this chill first began to disappear, merging in a dry and burning heat, and towards m. a sweat broke out over the whole body. He had no appetite, much thirst, passed no urine during the whole day, and had during the access heat a full, quick pulse and intolerable headache. On m. of following day he passed a small quantity of dark red urine; the sweat continued until noon, and prover could not leave his bed on account of his extreme weakness. A chill came on again in evening, followed by a sleepless n. 27th. – The debility continued; he had no appetite, his tongue was furred, and he urinated copiously. On the 28th, for the first time, M. felt better, but could not bring himself to continue taking the tinct.; for the simple smell of the drug disgusted and horrified him. 29th and 30th. and 30th. – The itching in anus was again perceived and the copious urine passed. By Nov. 8th prover considered the action of Thuja to be exhausted, as all the vital functions were then favourably reinstated.
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.