Introduction
An alkaloid obtained from Hyoscyamus, C17H23NO3.
Provings
1 a. The active principle of Hyoscyamus, when given in small doses, such as are insufficient to produce positive dryness of mouth, rapidly subdues ordinary excitement of pulse, and reduces it within an hour or two to its lowest rate, that is to say, to the condition in which it is usually found after a long period of complete rest of mind and body. For example, the pulse of a man ordinarily engaged shall be 80. After gr. 1/40 of sulphate of hours it will gradually fall to 60 or 50. In another person, whose pulse may be 72, we shall at the end of the same time find it steadily beating about 45. In all my experiments I have never observed the pulse to fall lower than 40.
1 b. After doses (gr. 1/16 to 1/12) sufficient to produce complete dryness of tongue, and of hard and soft palates, the pulse will generally experience an acceleration of 10 or 20 beats, and be increased in force and volume. This acceleration will generally be observed 10-20 m. after the subcutaneous injection; it does not usually continue longer than 20-30 m., and rarely lasts an hour. Then the pulse slowly declines, and gains a little in fore and volume. It usually decline by about 5 beats for every interval of 20 or 30 m. until, after 1 1/2 or 2 hours, it attains its minimum rate. Apart from these effects on the pulse, the following symptoms will be observed after moderate dose (gr. 1/30 to 1/24):- In 10-20 m. tongue more or less completely dry, rough, and brown, hard and soft palates dry and glazed excessive giddiness, and a weight across forehead, somnolence, cheeks occasionally a little flushed, and membranes of eye sometimes slightly injected. After continuing about an hour these symptoms pass off; and tongue, with hard and soft palates, becomes covered over with a sticky and offensive secretion, agreeing in all respects with that which follows the action of belladonna. The pupils slowly dilate during the latter part of the action of the medicine, and at its close attain their maximum degree of dilation.
1 c. If larger doses than gr. 1/12 be given the above- mentioned effects will be increased and prolonged for 2 or 3 hours; and they will be accompanied either by wakeful, quiet, and usually pleasing delirium with illusions of sight; or with such excessive somnolency that patient cannot keep eyelids raised for a few seconds, but when aroused lapses again into a dreamy sleep, broken by occasional mutterings and slight jerking of limbs. In either case the power of maintaining and slight jerking of limbs. In either case the power of maintaining the erect posture will be lost, and at best patient reels like a drunken man. (HARLEY, op. cit., p. 322.)
2. a. Samuel M-, at. 49, in strong health save of facial neuralgia. Pulse 74; pupils 1/9″; resp. 20. Had gr. 1/24 subcutaneously injected. After 23 m. pulse 89. After 3/4 hour, pulse 84, regular; giddiness; tongue dry and hard. After 1 hour, pulse normal; mouth clammy, throat dry. After 2 hours, pulse 72; pupils 1/8″; mouth quite moist; throat felt very dry.
2 b. Gr. 1/10, given in same way. After 20 morning, pulse 92, regular; great somnolency; excessive giddiness; he staggered much in walking. After 1 hour, pulse 82; pupils 1/8″; legs felt too weak, and he was too giddy, to walk without assistance; continued very sleepy; no dryness of mouth. After 1 1/2 hours, pulse 79; pupils 1/7″; still giddiness and somnolency; mouth and throat very dry and parched since last date, and remained so. After 2 hours, pulse 72, otherwise normal; pupils 1/6″; tongue dry and brown in centre; both palates dry and glazed; somnolence nearly gone, but giddiness continued, and he still required help in walking. After 2 1/2 hours, giddiness and dryness passing off. (Ibid.)
3. a. Charles V-, aet.32, strong man with chronic lumbago. Pulse 76; pupils at light 1/10″, sideways 1/7″. 1/48 gr. injected. After 20 morning, pulse 58. After 3/4 hour, pulse 55; pupils 1/8″, sideways 1/6.” After 1 hour, pulse 54; after 1 3/4 hour, 51; inclined to yawn. After 2 1/4 hours pulse 50; pupils as at 3/4 hour; slight dryness of month. At first force and volume of pulse were slightly increased, but afterwards it continued unchanged and regular throat. There was neither somnolency nor giddiness.
3 b. 1/20 gr. After 40 morning, pulse 66. Giddiness came on 10 morning after injection, and he now staggered a little on rising from chair; no somnolency; pupils slightly dilated; mouth generally dry. After 2 1/4 hour, pulse 52, otherwise normal; pupils 1/7″, sideways 1/5″.
3 c. 1/12 gr. After 20 morning, pulse 91, a little increased in volume; face a little flushed; felt heavy. After 1 hour, pulse 80; pupils 1/8″, sideways 1/7”; sclerotics and conjunctivae a little injected; face-chiefly cheeks -hot and flushed; tongue dry and brown down centre, rest of mouth very clammy; much somnolency and giddiness; he had slept last 10 m. After 2 hours, pulse 56; pupils 1/7″, sideways 1/5; flushing, etc., quite gone; mouth moist and clammy, and exhaling offensive odour; he had slept during last hour, and still experienced somnolency.
3 d. 1/8 gr. After 30 morning, pulse 102, of undiminished volume and power; pupils 1/8″; conjunctivae a little injected; tongue uniformly dry; both palates dry and glared; dull, heavy, and sleepy, and very giddy, reeled much in walking. Giddiness and dryness came on 12 morning after injection. After 40 morning, pulse 100; after 50 m. 88, eyes suffused, eyeballs restless, face hot and flushed; looked very heavy had slept, and great somnolency continued; mouth still moist. After 1 1/4 our pulse 67, otherwise normal; pupils 1/7″, sideways 1/5″; face less flushed; mouth quite moist, but throat very dry, and during last hour a dry tracheal cough was present; very giddy and sleepy still; frequently yawned and sighed. After 2.1/4 hour., pulse 58, softer; pupils 1/6″, sideways 1/4″ nearly; flushing, etc., had disappeared; somnolency now passing off. After 3 hours pulse 53; pupils as at 2.1/4; face and eyes natural; mouth moist; no other after – effects, and he now walked a distance of 4 miles.
e. The following table shows effect on urine:
Obs. Urine before med. Urine after med. a. 11.7 a.m. Between 8:30 and 11.7 3v, sp. gr. 1015, acid, pale sherry colour 2 1/4 hours after injection 3xviiss passed, sp. gr. 1010, feebly acid, whey coloured. 1/30 gr.at 8:30-11:15 3v, 1016 acid, much 11:15 a.m. uric acid 2 hours after 3xvss, 1008, alkaline, much less uric acid. b. 8:30 – 10:30 3xj, quality as above. 2.1/2 hours after 3xviij, 1008, 10.30 a.m. neutral, a trace of uric acid. 10:30 a. m. c. 8:30-11 3xiiss, 1010, faintly acid. 2 hours after 3xviiss, 1005, very alkaline. 11 a.m. d. 8:30-10.47 3viij, 015, acid, 10.47 a.m. bright on boiling. 1000 gr. measures contained 2.1/2 hours after 3xiv, 1008, alkaline, phosphatic opalescence on boiling. 1000 gr.contained: chlorine. g. 1:55 Chlorine gr.2:95 Urea gr. 12.32 Urea gr. 5.33 Sulphates and phosphates gr.4.16 Sulphates and phosphates gr. 3.24. (Ibid.) 4. Mrs.F-, aet.47; pulse 72; pupils at light 1/8″. 1/24 gr. caused great somnolency for 3 hours, with tottering and giddiness, so that she had to make two or three efforts before she could raise herself from the chair, and then began to reel and could not walk safely without support. Felt a great weight across forehead. Pulse during first 15 morning fell 16 beats, and during next 2 1/4 hours 8 beats more, when it attained the minimum, numbering 48. During the next hour it rose to 40 At end of 30 m. tongue was dry and brown, and both palates dry and glazed, remaining thus for following 1 1/2 hour 3 1/2 hours after injection, pupils measured 1/5″, and general symptoms had passed off completely. (Ibid.)
5. Mrs.E.W-, aet.34, storage and healthy, but suffering from neuralgia of fingers; in much pain, pulse 88 after sitting hour, pupils 1/10”. In 15 m. after injection of gr. 1/24 pulse decreased 6 beats; once or twice a. m. a beat came very slowly, otherwise quite regular;much somnolency and giddiness. After 30m. pulse further decreased 2 beats, quite regular, slightly increased in volume and power; tip of tongue and hard palate quite dry; face hot and flushed; still very sleepy. After 3/4 hours mouth suddenly and completely moistened, and at same minute pulse fell 7 beats, and attained minimum depression of 19 beats; flushing of face began to decrease; pupils 1/8″, sideways 1/6”,; somnolency and giddiness remain, and she continued to sleep during next 1 1/2 hour, when disturbed awaking with a start. At end of this time pulse was 72, having increased 3 beats since last mention; it was regular, and of slightly increased volume and force. (Ibid.)
6. John C-, aet. 55, an able-bodied but weakly man, had gr. 1/5 injected for relief of obstinate neuralgia. After 5 m. giddiness. After 20 m. pulse increased 12 beats, full and regular; tongue and mouth generally dry; hard palate quite dry; pupils dilating; felt sleepy and giddy. On attempting to rise from chair, he began to reel; legs were very weak, and he could not walks without assistance. After 45 m. pulse increased only 2 beats, of natural volume and force; pupils dilated to 1/5″; tongue, except margin, quite dry and rough; both palates completely dry and glazed; articulation indistinct from great dryness of tongue and throat. Complained of giddiness across forehead; no somnolency. Mind quite clear when engaged in conversation, but when left undisturbed he relapsed into a dreamy condition with eyes wide open. Twice he reached out a hand to an object on the table, and began to look about on the floor, and when I asked him “what for?” he said, “Oh! I thought something had dropped of the table- the walls appear to move a little. ” There was no flushing of the face or injection of the eyes. He could not rise from his chair, or walk without assistance; and as he sat, the extensors of the legs were slightly twitched now and then, so as to advance the foot with a little jerk. After 1 hour, pulse 1 beat less, full and regular; pupils a little over 1/5″; excepting gums, mouth quite dry. Continued in same condition, without manifesting least tendency to sleep. He remained quiet, but inclined to be meddlesome when his attention was not engaged in conversation, grasping at objects on the table, or in the waste-basket on the floor, and attempting to remove them before hand reached them, evidently misjudging distance. The muscular system generally was flaccid, he did not sit erect in the chair, and (besides jerking of feet already mentioned) once or twice the hand was suddenly pronated and supinated with a jerk. After 2 hours, pulse had decreased 6 beats, but still remained of good volume and force; pupils between 1/5″ and 1/4″; mouth dry as before; no flushing of face or injection of eye, no headache or somnolency. In answer to my questions, he said that he only felt giddy. The limbs were fidgety, and occasionally affected with slight twitching. Left alone, he relapsed into a state of forgetfulness and dreamy meddlesome delirium, picking at objects, and, having reached them after several unsuccessful efforts, fumbling them about until he dropped them, and then, in the attempt to pick them up, losing his balance, and, but for constant attention, falling over. When aroused, he rubbed his hands, gaped, and answered my questions readily. He was quite unable to walk. The eyelids were unsteady. A remark which I made at this time excited a risibility which he was unable to restrain, and every now and then the suppressed chuckle burt out into a hearty laugh. During next 1 1/4 hour he became somewhat restless, and if I left his side for a morning, he would attempt to get up, reel for a few paces, and then fall together like a drunken man upon the carpet. At the end of this time the giddiness diminished, and a slight inclination for sleep came on. after 3.1/4 hours he was garish and tired. He could now walk without assistance, but still reeled a little. Anterior part and margins of tongue were now quite wet with an acid secretion. Eyeballs were still unsteady. After 3 3/4 hours pulse was 60, and normal as at 2nd hour; pupils were nearly 1/4″ at light; mouth everywhere moist, and cerebral symptoms rapidly subsiding. At this time he ate a plateful of cold meat; and 1/2 hour after only slight giddiness and heaviness remaining, he walked home. (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.