d. 15 c. Took pellets saturated with 30th potency for 6 day with no results, then took pellets saturated with third potency every 1/2 hours for 2 day 1st day – After 1 p. m. noticed a frontal headache which extended back on left side of head to occiput; continued all day, more when lying down, especially when lying on occiput. Evacuation of bowels regular, but soft and stringy; had to use some force to start stool from sphincter, it seemed to stick, but after passing it was as described. 2nd day – Pain in bowels with flatulence; this is a very marked symptom, as the prover seldom passes flatulence. Pain in both testicles. 3rd day-Flatulence continued all day 4th day – Same doses as on 1st day, beginning at 2 p. m. Slept poorly during n. Flatulence a marked symptom. Pain in bowels ran down into scrotum; pain in scrotum was last to disappear. Two soft stools after 5 p. m., doughy and stringy, with tenesmus relieved after stool. Headache which stopped (? started) at temples, and seemed to take a diagonal course across head (after 2 h.). 5th day-Alternating soft and hard stool every 2 hours; the soft stool was doughy, stringy, and large; the hard stool of moderate size and followed by pain. Pain in testicles, worse in 1., in m. During proving a fulness in left ear, with continued beating of carotids; he could hear the beat distinctly. Pulse ranged from 72 to 80, never exceeding the latter.
15 d. On 1st day 3rd potency every 1/2 h. Headache, l. side, back to temple. Stool at 9 p. m., which was doughy and hard to expel; the same again at 12 m., with tenesmus. At 6 p. m. pain in both testicles, worse on left side, sometimes shoots up cord into abdomen; continued all e. Pulse 80 in evening 2nd day – Headache, 1. side, from before backwards. Tongue white, not coated, looks as if bleached. Pain in lower portion of bowels. One soft stool. Pulse 78 at 7:30 a. m. 3rd day – 5 dr. of tinct. every h. Pain in abdomen. Pulse 68, regular, at 8 a. m.; 72, irregular and soft, at 9; 80, regular and full, at 11; 83, regular and soft, at 12 m; 72, regular and full, at 2 p. m.; 76, regular and full, at 3; 83 at 4:30; 82 at 6; 85 at 9; 76, regular, at 11. 4th day – 10 dr. of tinct. at 8 and 9 a. m., 12 m., and 1 and 2 p. m. Dull feeling in head all afternoon and e. Fulness and throbbing in carotid in left ear; this came on soon after beginning to take drug. Nausea and dizziness, followed by heat of surface, then icy coldness. Pulse 70 at 8 a. m., 85 at 11, 84 at 12 m., 75 at 1 p. m., 80 at 2. (Ibid.)
16. J. H. C., aet, 28, took 10th potency every 20 m. from 7 a. m. Heavy dull pain in head with weakness; full, pressing, heaving feeling in eyes. Pain in bowels with nausea; desire for stool with nausea; some wind passed, but not much faeces. Drawing pain in lower thoracic region with nausea. Feet cold and chilly. Slight heat of body and cold sweat of forehead. Pulse (normally 72 to 76) at 9 a. m., 72; 12 m., 68; 1 p. m., 58; 4:30, 76 and full. 2nd day-Continued same. Vertigo with nausea; head full and heavy. Frontal headache with cold feet and hands. Numb constrictive pain in forehead pressing back to ears, sensation as if membrana tympani would break. Unsteady vision. Nausea and vertigo with pain in bowels; these symptoms 4 times in succession, 20 m. apart, each lasting 3 to 5 m. Soreness across abdomen and pain in bowels. Urgent desire for stool, but no passage; felt weak and faint. Difficult respiration, with nausea. In evening tickling, spasmodic cough, from just above sternum. At 6 p. m. feet and hands cold, with frontal headache. Skin of head hot and moist. Pulse, 9 a. m., 90, very weak, hardly perceptible; 12 m., 72. 3rd day – Pain and soreness across abdomen, just above pelvis, continuing all day, gradually decreasing. (Ibid.)
17. Mr. CHAS. BULLOCK experimented with the resin of Verbascum v. after it had been entirely freed from alkaloids. He took 1/3 gr. dissolved in alcohol every 1/2 hours until 1 gr. had been consumed. No effect on circulation, or other result, was noticeable. On a second trial same dose was administered at same intervals till 2 gr. had been taken. No effect on force or frequency of pulse was observed; the only result was great prostration of the digestive functions, subjecting the experimenter to a temporary but severe attack of dyspepsia. (H. C. WOOD, Am. Journ. of Medorrhinum Sc., N. S., lix, 51.)
18. Dr. WOOD, at 3:35 p. m., pulse 80, took gr. j of resin. 4, stomach feels mawkish and slightly nauseated; pulse 82. 4:15, took another gr. 4:30, pulse 76; slightly nauseated. 5, pulse 80, still nausea. 5:20, took 2 gr. more. 6, pulse 70; nausea marked, relieved at times by eructations of wind. at 6:30 he took a meal, though food was repugnant to him, and he ate little. All through evening he suffered from tightness, nausea, stomachic wretchedness, with frequent eructations of wind. A glass of whisky gave some relief. (Ibid.) Dr.Wood also experimented with the resin on a pigeon and two rabbits. On the latter the effect was nil, but the former suffered from repeated vomiting.
19. For the following observations patients were chosen in the hospital in a state as nearly approaching to health as possible, and to these the tinct was administered in increasing doses till a marked effect was produced. In each case patient was put upon a stated diet, and kept in before a day or two previous to administration of drug, their temp. and pulse being frequently noted, so as to compare their normal state with the observations subsequently made.
19 a. C.G -, aet. 45, widow, suffering from false angina pectoris, general condition fairly good. After being in hospital for a week temp, and pulse were noted for 3 d. Tinct. was then given in 20 min. doses. Pulse was soon affected, but not fall of temp. worthy of note occurred. After 2nd dose pulse fell within 2 hours 10 to 20 beats in m., and continued so far about 2 h. On rising again to about 60 beats, 3rd dose reduced it within an hours to 50. Two day later, medicine being given in same way, corresponding results were observed, and there was faintness and retching. Next day (Dec. 1st) one dose of 40 min. was given at 10 a. m. This reduced pulse in an hours about 10 beats, and till 4 p. m. it remained about 20 beats below average of days on which no medicine was taken. Dec. 2nd, 60 min. were given at 10 a. m. From 9 till 10 pulse had ranged between 64 and 72. One hours after medicine had been taken pulse began to fall, being between 11 and 12 as low as 42, ranging between this and 54 till 2 p. m., and gradually rising till it reached normal rate at 4. Temp., unchanged on previous day, was this day slightly higher.
19 b. S. W -, aet. 48. Admitted complaining of beating sensation in abdomen, which gave rise to much uneasiness at times, and occasionally to vomiting. Pulsations of abdominal aorta were very distinctly felt in epigastric region, but there was no enlargement. Heart healthy. In this case 2 doses of 20 and 40 min. respectively were given on 6th and 7th Dec., smaller dose producing a slight, and larger one a most marked diminution in the number of pulse-beats, within 2 hours of taking medicine. Temp. was not in the least altered. Each dose made him sick, faint, and weak, and 7 hours after latter there was slight headache. (SQUAREY, Pract., iv, 210.).
Poisonings
1. C., aet. 1/1.2 years, was given repeated doses of tinct. till he must have taken about 35 dr. in 2 to 3 h. There were efforts to vomit every few m. after 2nd dose. Dr. HARRIS was called to him 7 hours after 1st dose. He found him unconscious, very pale, breathing heavily – almost stertorously; pulse 40; extremities cold, and a profuse cold perspiration over body. Stimulates were given, and mustard applied; but child died in 6 hours more. (Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., 1xxii, 249.)
2. a. On evening of Dec. 18th I was called to see a scientific chemist. I found him sitting in the w. c., vomiting into the pan. His features were sunken, skin cold, and covered with profuse clammy sweat; pulse quite imperceptible. He complained of intense pain about epigastrium. The vomited matter appeared to consist at first of the food and contents of the stomach, afterwards of glairy mucus. I gave him immediately 3iss of pure brandy, which checked the vomiting. He was removed to an adjoining room, and laid on a couch in front of the fire. Surface was still very cold, especially on extremities. Clammy sweat continued; but pulse could be felt indistinctly, beating very feebly and irregularly, 44 to m. Two or three efforts at retching afterwards took place, and he once or twice vomited food, mucus, and a small quantity of blood. Warmth gradually returned to surface, and pulse became somewhat better in volume and power. Brandy was repeated and woke saying, “I am right now,” as he appeared to be. There was no diarrhoea throughout. He had 2 or 3 times a slight return of the symptoms; did not sleep during n., but was quite easy; and next m. felt only soreness of muscles from retching.
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.