11 b. Nov. 8th. – After I had desisted for three weeks, an felt myself pretty free from the effects of the drug, I began a new proving, by taking 300 dr. of the tinct. at 4 p. m.; whereupon the well – known Thuja symptoms made their appearance, as transitory drawing, perceptible now here, now there, itching and burning in anus, copious urine, sensitiveness of glans, & c. 9th. – 300 dr. in e. In n., increased sexual desire, which, during the whole course of preceding proving, had been rather diminished than exalted. 10th. – On following day, soon after waking, I was annoyed by an itching, burning pain in hollow below os coccyges, lasting all day; the same phenomenon recurred on taking 300 dr. in e. Three day subsequently glans became sensitive, and sebaceous glands of the prepuce swollen, as on 12th Oct. On the 4th d. I remarked a red tubercle between scrotum and right thigh; violent itching in hollow below os coccyges was again very troublesome, and the anus became as sensitive after a slimy discharge as through the skin were cracked and chapped there. 19th. – when most of the Thuja symptoms had ceased, I took at about 3 p. m. 1200 dr. of tinct. (in weight 3j and ij) in a pint of water. The effect of this draught was at first the drunkenness induced by alcohol; heat in the head and face, uncertain gait, reeling of surrounding objects, &c. In evening, a general feeling as if beaten, which drove me to bed at 8 p. m. Sleep was interrupted, as before, by dreams and frequent occasion to urinate. On following day, besides the occasional drawing in limbs, I wa annoyed by my most constant Thuja symptoms, itching and burning in anus with tenesmus, especially in evening 23rd. – Deep red spots showed themselves on glans, and inner surface of foreskin was inflamed and swollen. 24th. – The 5th day after the large dose of Thuja, a slight burning pain was perceived in glans, which in the furrow behind the corona was entirely covered with a thin, yellowish, ill – smelling secretion, on the removal of which two deep red spots were discovered, with appeared to be eroded, and from which the fluid alluded to transuded. 25th. – the two spots had increased in size, run together, and were covered with granular elevations; the glans was rendered uncomfortable, but urination wa performed without pain. 26th. – the whole furrow as far as the frenulum was sore and covered with papillae size of poppy – seed. the secretion from the glans was very copious. 27th and 28th. – Secretion was diminished in quantity, but some twelve or fifteen reddish excrescences arose on the hinder border of the glans, largest of which wa about the size of a flax – seed; and inner surface of the prepuce was full of granular tubercles. On next day, elevations on glans disappeared, as well as sore spots in the furrow, with a steady diminution of the purulent discharge; sebaceous glands of the prepuce remained, nevertheless, for some time swollen and prominent.
11 c. Dec. 1st. – At about 3 p. m. I took 3 dr. of oil of Thuja on a lump of sugar; the oil had been obtained (3j from 4 lbs. of leaves) by distillation of tender twigs of the tree; it tasted exceedingly sharp, and caused eructations for several h. In n. frequent urination, with very hasty, incessant urgency, and on following day redness of glans at aperture of urethra. After taking 10 dr. of the oil in evening, the eructations continued into n. 3rd and 4th. – A dull pain developed itself in left testicle as though it had been bruised, and was perceptible both when seated and when walking. On 6th an eroded spot appeared again in middle of furrow of glans, which discharged a pus – like fluid. 7th and 8th. – The discharge from the glans had attained its former height. The whole furrow was covered over with pus, so that it was necessary to cleanse it often. 9th. – After moderate use of wine the condition was still worse. The inner surface of the prepuce was sore in spots, highly inflamed at frenulum, glans was sensitive and painful when walking. I was now content with the painful present thus made to me, and closed my proving of Thuja. The discharge from the glans was not entirely cured, after several alternations of better and worse, till end of 4 weeks. Itching and burning in anus lasted longest, and was still felt at times after the lapse of months. I must here repeat the observation that during the whole duration of the experiments with Thuja (unica note exempta) the sexual impulse was diminished even to indifference. (Ibid.)
12. 1845, June 17th. Maria Anna M -, 35 years old, sanguineo melancholic temperament, tall and slender form, mother of six healthy children, began the proving of Thuja, 4 months after the birth of her last child, by taking 200 dr. of the 2nd dil. This was at about 3 p. m., She experienced no effect from the dose nor from another of 200 dr. of the 1st dil. 19th. – P. m., she took 30 dr. of tinct., and on awaking next m. complained of painful tension in left side of neck, darting upwards to occiput and downwards to the scapula, and preventing her from turning her head. On 20th (on which day she took nothing) the tension seemed somewhat to remit, but returned in greater severity on 21st, after taking 40 dr. In evening there also came on a crushing pain in inner side of left wrist, in head of radius, which last was plainly swollen and painful to touch. 22nd. P. m., she took 50 dr. in evening she felt tension in both knees and heels, especially when rising after being long seated. The stiffness of nape of neck continued. 23rd. – The same symptoms continued on taking 60 dr. She compared the tension in knees and heels to a feeling as if feet had been rendered stiff by over – exertion in walking. She took nothing on the last days of June, and the tension in nape of neck and in knees and heels diminished, but did not altogether cease. July 1st. – After a pause of 8 day she continued the proving by taking 70 dr. of tinct. The tension over patellae and in heels (at point of attachment of tendo Achillis) immediately increased. The rest at n. was good, and no change was perceived in urine or stools. 3rd. – 80 dr. were taken in afternoon as usual, upon which a dull stunning headache, in frontal region and vertex, came on, which, however, did not last long. 5th and 8th. – Nothing new was produced by 90 and 100 dr. The tension in knees and heels continued, but was only troublesome while walking, not while sitting; the tension in nape and still occasionally sensible, especially in m. 9th and 10th. – 120 and 140 dr. of tinct. having been taken, no new developments occurred, and the prover, stiffened in neck and legs, concluded her experiment. 12th. – the menses appeared at their regular period, but were weaker than ordinarily. The stiffness of left side of neck, and the tension over knees and in heels, diminished only very slowly, often disappeared and then suddenly set in again, and first completely vanished at the expiration of 3 months. (Ibid.)
13. Dr. REISINGER instituted on himself three experiments with Thuja.
13 a. 1844, Nov. 5th. – R. took in m. 10 dr. of tinct., and increased dose daily until he arrived at 100 dr., which he then repeated every other day until 10th Dec., without experiencing the slightest influence. Various hindrances prevented the prosecution of this experiment.
13 b. 1845, March 1st. – R. recommenced proving Thuja with 100 dr. of tinct., and added 100 dr. every other day, so that on 15th dose was 800 dr. The sole symptom which he ascribed to the drug was a tolerably strong, jumping, sticking pain in a hollow tooth of left under jaw, which had never ached before. This pain appeared only upon day of taking drug, and about 3 – 4 hours after its administration. But this very probable symptom of Thuja disappeared again under the subsequent remarkably large doses. 15th. – After taking 800 dr., right perceived in evening slight oppression of chest, with inclination to cough. 17th, 19th, and 21st. – 1000, 1200 and 1500 dr. produced no effect whatever. R. now discontinued the doses or 8 day, and waited, but in vain, for the after effected of the remedy. 29th, 30th, and 31st. – He took, each day, 1500 dr. of tinct., and remarked afterwards slight vertigo (effect of the alcohol), continual eructations, dryness of pharynx, frequent hawking up of mucus, and pressing, tensive feeling in the lungs, that became more perceptible and sticking on taking a deep inspiration. The other functions remained normal. April 1st. – Encouraged by this impunity, right took from 1st to 5th April, in daily increasing doses, 1600 to 2000 dr. of the tinct., without perceiving the slightest change in his sensations, except a feeling of dulness and confusion in head. 9th. – R. drank at one draught 3ij of tinct. Of the subsequent symptoms, the increased warmth in the stomach and whole frame, the vertigo, the headache in whole frontal region, and the violent thirst, are rather to be set to the account of the alcohol. Thuja will have the credit of the following: Swelling of the veins, especially of the arm; eructations of wind, smelling of the drug; oppression of the chest with some pain on inspiring; frequent hawking up of a tough mucus; restless sleep with confused dreams and excited sexual impulse.
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.