Introduction
Phosphoric acid. H3PO4. Prepared by Hahnemann from action of sulphuric acid on calcined bones. The Brit. Hom. Pharm. prefers to burn phosphorus in oxygen, and dilute product to sp. gr. 1.058. The Brit Pharm obtains its acid from phosphorus by aid of nitric acid.
Provings
1. HAHNEMANN, Materia Medica Pura, vol. v of original, vol. ii of English translation. Contains 268 symptoms from author, and 411 from 12 fellow observers.
2. IBID. Chronic Diseases, Part v of original, vol. of translation. Augmented by 139 symptoms, mainly credited to Hering, and probably observed on patients mentioned in preface as cured by him with the acid.
3. Dr. HEINIGKE took, from 24th to 31st May, phos. ac. 3, 5 drops 2 or 3 times daily. During the 7 days, though in normal state bowels were usually loose, he had constipation, with usually ineffectual call to stool. But his sufferings commenced on the 8th day, when he had ceased to take any medicine. Hitherto he had never suffered from any rheumatic or gouty ailments. 31st May, evening an acute pain betwixt scapulae, of a boring and drawing character, followed by disturbed sleep. 1st June. – On waking in morning pain had gone into left shoulder-joint, and there it remained for 8 weeks. It increased every days, and on 15th June seemed to have attained its greatest intensity; it was of a boring, digging, and drawing kind, and was strongly remittent, nearly intermittent in character. It awoke him between 2 and 3 a. m., and then he could not get to sleep again until he had taken an antidote. The axillary and radial nerves seemed to be chiefly affected; transient pressure on shoulder caused no change; lying on left side caused aggravation; moving shoulder and arm caused relief; so did raising the left arm above the head; everything that impeded circulation of blood caused aggravation, absolute rest, e.g. while being shaved. It lasted from 2 a. m. till 8 a..m., then got better. After dinner (2 p. m.) aggravation till 4 p. m., then remission. A fresh aggravation from 7 p. m. till 11 p. m. Beer and wine caused aggravation, moving in open air amelioration. When pain had lasted 3 weeks he resorted to remedies. First rhus 12, that at first brought relief, but after 3 days. was of no use. Bryonia, arn., and ign. did little good. Con 12 gave more relief, but brought on spasms in stomach. By 10th July pain, though less, was still bad. Ferrum met. 2 caused material improvement. That and con. alternately reduced pain by middle of August to numbness in course of radial nerve. In lower extremities he noticed slight swelling of feet, with burning in soles; occasional tearing and painful drawing in course of right external plantar nerve.
In middle of June he was seized with capillary bronchitis, which he could only ascribe to the medicine. It came on with febrile symptoms that lasted 3 days, with evening exacerbations; dyspnoea, aching pain under sternum, then frequent sneezing, much thirst, some coryza, the copious expectoration was of purulent character. A few furuncles appeared on left side of chest and back. The urine, which was copious and clear during the proving days, became in June and July dark and turbid. With all the pain and sleeplessness he felt during June fresh and lively in mind; in July there was exhaustion and general depression. (Allg. hom. Zeit., lxxix, 157.) 4. Dr. SCHELLING took phos. ac. 12, one drop in three doses, morning afternoon, and evening. January 13th, forenoon, irresistible yawning, also in evening; vertigo, staggering when walking about; cold feeling, more internal shuddering than external cold. Exhaustion, dislike to every occupation; slight burning in middle of chest after occupation; burning itching pain in middle of chest and upper abdomen, with frequent hawking of mucus. In evening great discharge of flatus smelling of garlic; frequent yawning and chilliness from 9 to 10 a. m. and 4 to 6 p. m.; memory for ordinary work nearly lost; in evening tearing spasmodic pain in left wrist and cold feet. (At night, from 2 – 4 a. m., no sleep on account of thoughts intruding.) 14th, morning exhaustion, uncomfortable, inclined for nothing; took another dose of phos. ac., thereafter constant severe yawning for 1/4 hours. (From reading a few lines exhausted, heavy pressive headache, and nausea.) Evening, in bed great discharge of flatus with garlic smell for 1/2 hours; cough and hawking of thin mucus; sleep quiet, woke a few times. 15th. – Very cold weather; in evening spasmodic drawing in feet, very severe in right sole and ball of big toe, preventing sleep till after midnight; after 1 a. m. pains went off, quiet sleep; next morning woke feeling well, slept well; next morning expectoration of salt mucus. (Ibid., lxxxiv, 43.)
5. Dr. ANDREWS took increasing doses, from 20 drops to 3ss. Within first interval there is increase in force of pulsations, though there is little change in number during whole time of experimentation. Increase is most marked after lapse of from 1 to 2 hours, and it is not till after several hours that pulse returns to its normal condition. The sensations experienced of taking from 40 drops to 3iij were those of moderate alcoholic stimulation. There was slight pain through frontal region, and a buoyancy and lightness of feeling rather agreeable. When a larger dose was taken there was a feeling of drowsiness an inclination to lie down, and an unwillingness to undertake mental labour. This continued for some hours. (Amer. Journ. of Insanity, 1869, p. 113.)
6. Dr. A.W. WOODWARD. 8 a. m. Health sound, pulse 65. Took 10 drops of lx in water; soon feeling of a lump in stomach with eructations. 8.5. Itching of scalp, hands feel swollen, eructations again. 8.7. Rumbling in bowels, itching of ear, chest seems bound, breathing oppressed; eyes watery. 8:10. Drawing in right hand, cramp in left calf; sighing respiration. 8:15. Pulse 76, lump in stomach, perspiration on forehead, yawning. 8:20. Cramp in right hand, eructation, yawning, dull ache in lumbar region. 8:30. Pulse 84, no appetite, much itching on scalp and scrotum. 8:45. Dull headache, sneezing. 9. Lump in stomach, dull ache in back, itching returns. 9:30. Hazy vision, rubbing eyes relieves; languid, pulse 92, weak. 10. Usual stool; after stool sickening pain about umbilicus; putting on walking shoes find feet swollen and sore. 10:30. Fresh air invigorated me; felt strong in mind and body until 5 p. m., as if from stimulants; no desire for lunch, some thirst. 6. Dull occipital headache, slight nausea, sweat profusely on exertion. 7. Scant stool and scant urine, ate heartily. 11. Very weary, cannot sleep from itching and sexual excitement; erections weak, attended by salivation and palpitation of heart 12. Called to urinate, scant and slow. 1. Same repeated, slept until 8. 2nd day. – Waked with dull headache between eyes, irritability of sexual organs, mental depression, languor, pulse 65. 8. Little appetite, more thirst, tongue pasty; stool after eating, followed by sinking at epigastrium; felt languid and chilly in open air; called to urinate at 12, scant and irritating; slimy saliva in mouth during forenoon. 3 Ate heartily, much oppressed after, much flatulence. 5 Watery stool, much flatus; evening, tympanites. 10. General cold sweat and free urine. 3rd day. – Copious urine on rising, slight exercise cause backache, free stool and copious urine at 10, free urine at 1, again at 4 and 6; well as usual in evening (Communicated.).
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.