Introduction
Zincic isovalerate, Zn (C5H9O2)2. Result of mixture of sulphate of zinc and valerianate of soda.
Provings
1. Jas. A. George, aet. 22, took 10 powders of 2x trit., 5 gr. in each, 10 times in 2 day, without effect of any kind. ( Trans. of Amer. Inst., 1888, p. 175.)
2. Everett B. FINNEY proved 1x trit. 1st day – 1 gr. at 7, 3, and 7:15. 4:30, colicky pains, which recurred at 5:15 and 11. 5:20, slight pain in left temple. 5:50, same in left mastoid process. For most part of day tendency to erection. 2nd day – Rose at 6:30 with colicky pains. At 7 and 11 a. m. took 5 gr. 8:15, a strong erection. 4, hard colicky pains, followed by brown watery stool containing faecal lumps. 3rd day – Between 4 and 5 wakened by emission, after which sense of weight and constriction in perinaeum. At 7:30, 12:25, 3, and 9, took 5 gr. 2:15, strong erection, with dulness of mind and headache. 2:30, 4, 9:15, abdominal pains, on second occasion relieved by discharge of flatus. 9:15 – 9:50, hard sneezing. 4th day – Again nocturnal emission. 6:30, rose with abdominal pains. Took 5 gr. at 7, 11, 3, 6, and 9. 2:35, slight pain over right eye with dull headache. 4:30, drawing pain at umbilicus and sense of pressure on rectum when standing. 5, frontal headache with sense of fulness at occiput. 5th day – Rose with abdominal pain. Took 5 gr. at 7:30, 10, 2:30, 7:15, 11:25. 9:50 a. m., belched up very bitter fluid. 1:25 p. m., sensation as if very heavy weight lay on chest. 6th day – Took 5 gr. at 7:30 a. m. 12:30 p. m., began to experience great fulness of head with difficult thinking. 2:30 p. m. evacuation of faecal matter followed by watery fluid, with pains in belly. 6, again crampy pain in abdomen. 7th day – All day tired feeling of brain, as after over – study. 8th day – No symptoms. Took 5 gr. twice. 9th day – Took 5 gr. at 7, 11, 3, and 7. 7:30, bowels moved; stool soft and mushy, dark, small, 9, ineffectual desire for stool. 11:30, felt distressed mentally, mind all “mixed up.” 7:15, neuralgic pain about heart, recurring at 8:30. Abdominal pains of crampy character at 8:45 and 9:25, and at 10 pain in left deltoid for some m. 10th day – Woke with empty feeling at pit of stomach. Took 5 gr. at 7:30 a. m. and 3 p. m. 5, had spell of coughing with feeling of fulness of chest, no expectoration. 6, slight pain in right deltoid; fulness of head, especially at occiput. 7:45, another spell of cough as before, with sense of fulness in chest. 9:20, frontal headache. 13th day – 7 a. m., took 5 gr. 4 times, and on 21st day twice. 22nd day – Passed restless n. 4:30, rumbling and pain in bowels. 6:30, had to get up to stool, which was small, brown, and mushy, discharged with much wind. Pain in bowels while dressing and after breakfast; no appetite; tongue coated white. From 8 to 11 a. m. bowels moved every hours, stool being scanty, with much tenesmus. After 11 pain subsided. 5, stiffness of muscles of neck, and dull headache lasting all evening 23rd day – Slept tolerably well. 8 a. m., some pain in bowels and passage of small stool with trifling tenesmus. 9, ineffectual desire for stool. Tongue still coated, but food enjoyed pretty well to – day. (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.