2. From hypodermic injection of resinoid of V. v. in a slut, the stomach, intestines, uterus and bladder were intensely injected. The coats of stomach and intestines were thickened and probably inflamed. Liver dark and congested, hear distended, ventricles full of blood, right lung congested with ecchymotic spots on its surface. (PEUGNET, N. T. Medorrhinum Rec., vii, 114.)
3. OULMONT, after various experiments on dogs, rabbits, and frogs with the tinct. of V. ver., administered hypodermically, gives following as results of his observations: – “The first effect was on the circulation, a remarkable falling of the pulsations; then a diminution of temperature of 1 – 5 degrees, the respiration becoming slow and irregular. Then followed vomiting and purging. The most prominent symptom was the extreme prostration, followed by insensibility and total loss of power, – the animal totally insensible to electric shocks or any other irritation. Death, however, rarely ensued; and when it did there were no lesions of the digestive tract.” (With V. album, on the other hand, these P. M. appearances were very marked, and death occurred constantly and rapidly.) (Bull. de Theridion, 1xxiv, 152.)
4. Dr. BURT experienced on a very large dog, weighing 60 lbs.; resp. 20, pulse 88. “Injected into jugular vein 15 dr. of Tilden’s fl. extr. at 5 p. m. In 2 m., violent vomiting; 3 m., tries to get up m., pulse 138; 45 m.; 1 hours, pulse 100; 1/1.2 hours, pulse 110; 2 hours, pulse 112; 3 hours, same; 5 hours, 130. Has been vomiting every few m. all the while: at times he would hold his breath, so that there would be but 4 or 5 respirations in a m. I left him 10 hours, and when I returned I found resp. 9 and pulse 102: he could not stand. Tried to inject 25 dr., but dog struggled, and fluid passed into cellular tissue. In 8 m. he became very restless, and pulse had fallen to 88; 30 m. after, pulse 74; 1 hours, pulse 60. No vomiting. I now injected 20 dr. into jugular; he immediately began to move and tried to get up and vomit, but he could not. Some bile ran from his mouth in his efforts to vomit. Pulsation of heart was so feeble that I could not find it for 15 m.; then it was 60: it could not be felt any more, and he died in 20 m. after the last injection without a struggle. Autopsy, 20 hours after death. – Great congestion of lungs, especially lower lobes. Heart: Both auricles empty, both ventricles filled with coagulated fibrin, cloth extending into aorta and pulmonary vein. Slight congestion of m. m. of stomach, which was filled with bile and a dirty – looking fluid. A good deal of congestion of small intestines. Other organs natural. (HALE, op. cit.)
5. Same injected under skin of fore – leg of a large cat 5 dr. of ft. extr. In 10 m., nausea, and efforts to vomit; 18 m., violent vomiting, founders about in much distress; resp. 176, while before injection it was 70; 30 m., great prostration, resp. 200, nausea and vomiting; 50 m., violent spasms, founders about at a fearful rate. After 5 m. of this it became still, with slow, heavy, rattling resp., and died in 5 m. more. Autopsy, 11 hours after death. Arteries of arachnoid greatly congested, though none could be found ruptured. Lungs could not be more congested, looking completely hepatized. R. heart distended with blood, 1. empty; about 3ss of fluid in pericardium. Pyloric portion of stomach congested and covered with bile; gall – bladder half full; liver looked congested. All other organs natural. (Ibid.)
6. Same injected 8 dr. under skin of a large female cat at 11.24 a. m. In 4 m. nausea; 12 m., violent vomiting, resp. – at first 80 – now 100; 20 m., violent nausea and retching, resp. 198, great prostration, cannot stand; 36 m., complete prostration, resp. 202, urinated and had a thin stool; 50 m., resp. 160, nausea. 1:15 p. m., resp. 176; pupils contracted; ears and legs very cold. 1.22, had a short spasm; came near dying, resp. 130, heavy and rattling. At 1:30 resp. was 150; at 2 it was 100, at 3 only 72; at 3:30 it had fallen to 14, and she seemed in great pain. At 4:30 and 6 resp. was 12, and there was great prostration. Six dr. more were injected. At 8 p. m. resp. was 10, and there was complete prostration. In m. she was found dead, but not rigid. Autopsy, 12 hours after death. Cerebellum appears congested. Both lungs very much congested, and apparently hepatized in spots. Pericardium contained Zss of serum; both ventricles inflamed (?), 1 in. of left as black as ink; 1. ventricle full of coagulated blood, right empty. Cardiac portion of stomach congested and covered with bile; stomach much distended with air; liver looks congested; mesenteric arteries very much distended. Other organs natural. (Ibid.)
7. I killed 7 more cats with V. vir. Nausea and vomiting were produced in all, 5 – 10 m. after injection. In 5, resp. increased from natural standard up to 200 – 300, and then would come down to about 15 before death. To keep up the respirations, medicine had to be repeated every 1/2 h. With two the respirations did not rise above 90; their lungs were found natural, but the heart had evident signs of inflammation, with great collections of serum in pericardium. All but these had violent congestion of lungs; in 3 complete hepatization seemed to have taken place, and in one left lung adhered to pleura for about the space of a dollar. In those I let live for 3 or 4 day, the lungs were inflamed in small patches. All had signs of inflammation of heart, an a large quantity of serum in the pericardium. All had congestion of stomach, and it was covered with bile and distended with air. The liver in all appeared congested; and all had great distension and engorgement of the mesenteric arteries. (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.