Introduction
Vinca minor, L. Lesser periwinkle. Nat. ord., Apocynaceae.
Provings
1. Dr. ROSENBERG, in conjunction with Drs. Zitter and Buchner and Surgeon Burdach, proved the tincture, the first – named in doses of from 20 to 36 dr., the others in doses of from 30 to 60 dr. No information given as to which provers observed the different symptoms. The following are recorded: Tearing pains in limbs. Trembling sensation in all the vessels (?) of the body. Trembling sensation, especially in upper extremities, with tendency to be started, especially during mental exertion. Empty feeling in various parts. Gouty tearing in bones. Gastric troubles. Great weakness and faintness. Lachrymose state. Exhaustion as if life would be extinguished. Inclination to stretch the limbs. Most of the symptoms are ameliorated by movement in open air. Eroding itching inducing scratching. Very sensitive skin with redness and excoriation from rubbing it a little Frequent yawning. Sudden attacks of shivering. Heat with hard full pulse. Sleeplessness and restlessness at n., lascivious and tiresome dreams. Sadness with fear of death. Crossness, quick anger, and soon afterwards repentance. Whirling vertigo with blackness and flames before eyes. Headache. Confusion of sinciput with slight pressure upon eyes and misty vision, increased by stooping and writing. Pressure in temples. Tearing pain on top of head, with feeling as if struck with a hammer from within outwards. External pressure on head. Shooting in left temple towards zygoma. Eroding itching on hairy scalp with irresistible desire to scratch. Moist eruption on head with many vermin, and especially nocturnal itching with burning after scratching. Great heat in scalp with prickling. Matting together of hair of head like plica polonica. Itching smarting of scalp, especially in vertex, inducing scratching. Itching and burning in eyelids, which are red. Dimness of vision when reading. Mist before eyes when reading, sometimes also when walking. When snuff got into his eye it secreted so little water that he had to help it with cold water. In the ears tinnitus and whistling, with sensation as if wind blew out of them, especially left ear. Itching of nose. Tiresome dryness and heat in nose to frontal sinuses. the tip of nose becomes red on the slightest chill. Moist eruption on nasal septum; the skin which opened discharge a yellowish moisture drying to light brown scabs, in dirty white, somewhat raised, with reddish areola. Paleness of face. Tearing in zygomata. Heat of cheeks without redness. Swelling of face with eruption of pimples. Itching of upper lip, making him scratch. Dry lips. Swelling of upper lip and corner of mouth. Toothache when chewing. Tearing in teeth, but only when out of bed; in the warmth of bed these symptoms cease. Aphthae in mouth. Increased secretion of saliva. Diminished taste of all food. Flat taste. Hunger alternating with anorexia without having eaten anything. Almost complete absence of thirst. Ulcerated throat. Sore throat when swallowing, which is difficult. Feeling as if something were sticking in oesophagus low down, causing him to swallow. Great empty eructation. Empty eructation increased by drinking beer and other liquids. Inclination to vomit, also after coffee. Copious vomiting of bitter, yellowish-green fluid. Empty feeling in stomach. Abdomen full and tense, but painless. Flatulence. Pinching in belly. Rumbling in abdomen with discharge of much fetid flatus. Distension of abdomen after stool. Urging to stool. Stool first hard, then soft. Exhausting stools with burning in anus. Urine scanty. Little deep yellow urine. Excessive menstruation almost like a stillicidium, with great feeling of weakness. Stoppage of nose, chiefly of one side, with discharge of much mucus from choana. Frequent epistaxis. Spasmodic cough with slight tickling in larynx. Viscid mucus in trachea. Frequent hawking all d. Hoarseness. Quickened respiration. Pains in chest with shooting and tightness. Stitches on sternum. Pressure on sternum with empty feeling in chest. Painful tension and stiffness in nuchal muscles, with feeling as if a weight lay there. Cramp – like drawing and tearing in upper arm and tips of fingers. Swelling and stiffness of first digital phalanges, with burning pains in nails. Burning pains and ulcers as from decubitus on left natis. Itching, exuding spots above right ankle. Cramp – like drawing in feet and toes. Duration of medicine 8 day and more. (A. h. Z., xvii, 39, from ROSENBERG’s Weichselzopf.).
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.