Introduction
Semecarpus Anacardium, left (A. orientale). Marking-nut. Nat. Ord. Anacardiacae.
Provings
1. HAHNEMANN, Chronic Diseases, Part I of original, Vol. of English translation. Contains 622 symptoms from Hahnemann and seven others. 2. Dr. HERRING, age 53, nervous health good, took April 27th and 28th, 4 doses of 1x trit. gr. j each. On 29th, feeling even better than usual, took 3 doses of gr. ij each. On 30th, 3 doses of gr. iij each. May Ist. -Night more dreamful than usual; some frontal headache. This morning took 3 doses of gr. iv each. 2nd- Disinclined to read this m., listless; some intermitting neuralgic pain on flexor aspect of right thumb. No med. 3rd. – Dreamful sleep and pain in thumb as before. No med. 4th. -Took 3 doses of gr. v each. 5th. -Activity of brain during sleep, slight headache indisposition for mental exertion; also some uneasiness of heart, pulse normal. Took 3 doses of gr. vj each. At 4 p.m., soreness of scalp. Neuralgia in thumb continues, especially when pressed. 6th. -Troubled dreams last night; in m., heaviness and disinclination to rise; more neuralgic twitches in thumb and once in little finger; discomfort about heart. At 11:30 a.m., neuralgia in right temple, and at 7 p.m. same in left calf. Cardiac oppression continued during day; heart felt weak, as if working too slowly; pulse 64; some irritability of bladder. Took 3 doses of gr. vij each. “7th. -The worst night I have had, from disturbing dreams, which were of a gloomy desponding nature. I should call them nightmare, for there was no sense of personal danger; but there was an oppressive notion that everything one did would end in vanity and vexation, and that nothing could extricate me from impending poverty. By 11:30 a.m., oppression of spirits was almost gone, but there was still a feeling of irresolution, awkwardness, and querulousness. Very drowsy; could not read.” No more med. Symptoms now abated; but up to 11th neuralgic twinges in extremities continued to trouble him, and brain continued morbidly active during sleep till n. of 9th. (Monthly Hom. Review, July 1, 1885.) 3a. Louisa R-, on May 5th, took gr. ix of same, in 2 doses, and on 6th three doses of gr. vj each. At night disagreeable dreams, and next day unusual activity and impatience.
3b. On 27th, took 3 ten-drop doses of tincture. On 28th, no symptoms; took 3 doses of gtt. xx each. At 9 p.m., complained of incessant irritation of skin, which she described as “furious.” It lasted till she went to sleep, extending even to toes. Took no more med., but had return of irritation now and then next day, and for 4 following nights. No nervous symptoms were produced this time. (Ibid.) 4. According to Dr. Stadeler, there is found in the cellular interspaces of the fruit of the anac. orient., a balsam-like fluid, consisting of a fatty acid and a chemically indifferent substance called cardol, an oleaginous substance, of vesicating power. Frerichs has frequently used the ethereal extract of cardol as a vesicant. Painted with a camel-hair brush on the sound skin, it dries in rapidly; and in a few m. causes a slight burning and itching, gradually followed by redness and swelling. In about 12 hours epidermis rises in form of wheals, firm and solid, like those of urticaria tuberosa. In course of time this exudation is saturated and softened by an effusion of serum, and breaks down into a sero-purulent fluid, converting wheals into vesicles, at first pea-like and flat,, but soon coalescing to form large flat bullae, which open and discharge a turbid purulent fluid. Cuticle then falls off, leaving exposed cutis swollen and congested, suppurating profusely. If protected, spot may skin over in 10-12 day more; but on friction &c., fresh exudations, and even inflammatory action, will occur at edges of sore. (Deutsche Klin., 1852, 229.) 5. On morning of Feb. 16th, Dr. Reil rubbed on back of hand (space size of a sixpence) a small quantity of the brown slimy fluid contained between the shell and kernel of an anacardium bean. In evening, skin was slightly reddened. On 17th, 18th, and 19th, nothing was noticed, only the redness appeared to increase in the warmth, and the skin became shriveled somewhat. On the 20th, 21st, and 22nd itching was felt, the place that had been rubbed with the juice was elevated above the level of the rest of the skin, the skin, which was black in the furrows, seemed as though it would burst. The itching increased and the epidermis desquamated in small pieces, but the new skin beneath it was not smooth, but uneven and shining. On the 27th, the whole place was clear of the old epidermis, and presented the appearance of an inflamed cutaneous surface covered with small miliary pustules, the itching was considerable, especially during the night, and the heat; the elevation of the circumscribed spot as of the surrounding skin was increased, and was from 1/4 to 1/2 a line high. Each pustule exuded from its apex a fluid which dried into a thin yellow. crust. In the night of the 27th the itching was quite intolerable, and he must have scratched while asleep, for the exudation next morning was greater, and round about the place the skin was studded with red inflamed spots, the whole back of the hand was swollen and hot. On 1st March the state was the same, only that by the friction of the glove apparently the small spots surrounding the principal place swelled for some hours up into wheals, then disappeared; itching considerable. On the 2nd and 3rd, the burning was less, as also the exudation and crust formation. The whole place had the appearance of a hypertrophy of the skin, the surrounding red spots only became more distinct by scratching. On the 3rd, evening, there was desquamation; during the following days this went from the periphery to the centre, and was repeated several times till the 7th; but in proportion as the spot on which the juice had been rubbed became regenerated, the surrounding inflammation increased, producing a surface covered with papules and wheals, which did not exude, but on the slightest irritation became bright red and as if indurated, so that the movement of wrist, over which towards the forearm the wheals extended, was hindered by the formation of thick folds. During the subsequent days a bran-like desquamation occurred here also, which nearly ceased by the 11th, when the natural appearance of the skin was almost quite restored. (REIL, Z. f. h. K., ii, 44.).
Poisonings
1 a. A woman, who had long suffered from chronic rheumatism of the thigh, hung a fruit of anac. or., through which she had bored a hole, on the affected limb. There occurred a bright scarlet-red eruption over the whole body, especially on the affected thigh and abdomen, and such swelling of those parts that the patient looked like a barrel. The upper part of the thigh had a circumference of three feet, slightly diminishing towards the knee, but increasing in an extraordinary degree in the calf. The skin of the abdomen to above the navel was very considerably swollen and inflamed. At the same time there were the most severe burning pains and violent fever. From laying the diseased upon the healthy thigh the inflammation was transmitted to the latter, though in less degree. Patient was well in five weeks.
1b. A confectioner applied the same remedy for lumbago. The same symptoms occurred as in the above, only not lasting so long.
In both cases great desquamation of the cuticle occurred when they were getting better. (Medorrhinum Centr. Ztg., 48, p. 852, quoted in Z. f. h. K., i, 117.) 2a. A very corpulent gentleman, age 50, otherwise quite well, only subject to periodical lumbago and rheumatic toothache, wore an anacardium nut suspended from his neck by a string passed through a hole bored in it. In 8 days, there came an itching on the chest, aggravated by warmth and exercise, and compelling constant scratching; a few days later the itching spread over the abdomen and axilla. It was attended by an eruption of numerous larger and smaller red, inflamed, and elevated wheals. He still continued to wear the bean. The itching increased, was disagreeable by day and kept him awake at night, he got feverish, lost his appetite, and was constipated. When examined his chest, axilla, upper arms, belly, scrotum, and thighs, were not only found to be covered by wheals exuding a viscid yellowish fluid, but some of them had turned into warty excrescences with thickened epidermis. All the intermediate skin was of an erythematous redness, and the itching frightful; scratching brought no relief, on the contrary, increase of pains and of the discharge, so that many places were covered with yellow crusts. He was washed with lukewarm oatmeal gruel and soap baths. The inflammatory symptoms went off in 8 days and desquamation ensued. [ For similar cases see Brit. Journ. Hom., xxxiii., 564, and LEWIN, op. cit., p.224.] (Z. f. h. Kl., ii, 44.) 3. K. Kunzel on the 15th Dec. was engaged in preparing a tincture of anacardium. He pounded the seeds in a mortar, and as they were fresh and juicy the juice several time spirited into his face. This he took no notice of, as he did not know the powerful action of these seeds. In the evening there occurred violent burning on chin, and later small vesicles, which when rubbed exuded a quantity of fluid. Next m. the left side of the face was much swollen, and covered with a quantity of small pock- like vesicles. 1 dr. of camphor 1 had no particular effect. In the forenoon violent burning, which went off by evening after 2 dr. of rhus 2. At n. slept well, but next minute the swelling was much greater; not only was the left eyelid quite swelled up, but small vesicles appeared on the backs of both hands. About noon the swelling of the eyelid abated somewhat, and some of the vesicles burst and discharged a yellowish transparent fluid which hardened in the air to a transparent yellow mass. Towards evening the burning increased. The 3rd day no change was perceptible. The swelling had fallen more and more to the lower part of the neck. On the 4th day the disease underwent a change; instead of the burning a very painful itching came on combined with a shooting sensation like a gnat bite; then weariness which had shown itself the first day went off. Could not sleep at night for itching; there was also toothache on left side, which recurred several times next d. The following days until the 24th the swelling still declined, and the face healed up in some places. The itching still remained, especially on going to bed at night. On the 25th the swelling was completely gone from the face; there was still some sore places, which gradually healed up. The hands were harder to cure; the coldness of the weather no doubt delayed the healing up, and the scabs were frequently knocked off, so that on the 29th there still remained some unhealed spots. (Communicated by Dr. TRINKS, Z. f. h. K., ii, 131.) 4. A boy, age 13, painted figure of anchor on left arm with juice of marking nut. In a week arm became red, and a number of small pimples appeared. In night face became swollen and red, as also abdomen and thighs, on which arm had rested. When seen next day, arm and hand bright red and swollen, as in erysipelas. Painted spot was abraded; over rest of forearm many vesicles of various sizes and shapes, with minute pustules. Arm did not pit on slight pressure, but colour readily disappeared for the time. On back of right hand and in front of wrist, also on right cheek, a few raised red spots, sharply defined, surrounded by minute white pustules. Redness and swelling of face were chiefly about eyes, left eye being quite closed. On chin a yellow crust resembling that of eczema. On inner side of each thigh at upper part was a large red ill-defined patch, with one or two transparent vesicles: on lower abdomen a few spots as on right hand. Eruption caused considerable itching. (F. TAYLOR, Medorrhinum Times and Gaz., 1875, ii, 519.) 5. A. B-, age 28, while extracting juice of bean let some of it get into crack on left wrist (Dec. 10th). After 12 hours wound itched, and scratching increased irritation. In afternoon of next day vesicles appeared round wound, and higher up arm towards elbow. Skin became deep red, hot, and swollen, to above elbow. At first not much itching, but on 2nd day this was considerable, and so much worse at night as to hinder sleep. On evening of 12th scrotum became inflamed, without vesication; also face, eyelids and upper right cheek presenting erysipelatous appearance, and feeling hot, stiff, and burning. There was also a red patch at bend of right arm, and on right hand. Dr. Yeldham saw him on m. of 13th. He looked ill, worn, and languid (probably from want of sleep); expressed himself as feeling depressed and irritable, disinclined to move, and impatient of the play of his children, which usually afforded him pleasure. He also complained of confusion of head and memory. If he laid a thing down he forgot where he placed it, &c. On waking after 1/2 hours sleep that morning every object appeared a long way off. This lasted about 1 hours, and did not recur. There was loss of appetite and some thirst; pulse somewhat accelerated, but weak; skin cool. Two day later (though rhus 1x had been taken) arm was more swollen and tense, redness deeper and more uniformly diffused; colour disappearing on pressure, and returning directly this is removed. Face and scrotum better. During next 2 days (under bell. 0) rapid improvement occurred, and on 17th hardly anything remained (YELDHAM, Month. Hom. Rev., xx, 95.).
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.