Introduction
Potassic Permanganate, K2MN2O3.
Provings
1a. Dr. H. C. ALLEN, April 24th, 1866, at 10:45 a. m., took 6 gr. In 20 m. hot burning sensation in cardiac extremity of stomach, with peculiar constrictive smarting sensation in throat and fauces, attended with slight inclination to swallow, and hot uneasy constrictive sensation throughout whole of oesophagus, which continued for 2 hours, but as it was relieved by eating be attributed it to the irritating presence of the salt coming in contact with the mucous membrane of the fauces and alimentary canal. 3 – 4 – 5 p. m., took 10 gr. more. 4, felt burning nauseating pain in fauces, extending down oesophagus to stomach, attended with dryness and constant inclination to swallow. 4:20, throat and fauces feel raw and sore, with acute pain extending to ears on swallowing. 4:40., hot burning pain in stomach which appears to radiate over the whole epigastrium. 5, continual dryness in the throat, with slight irritating backing cough on attempting to swallow. 5:30, deep – seated pain in lower part of larynx, particularly in region of cricoid cartilage; fauces red and inflamed, and desire to swallow increasing; whole throat and larynx feels as though the cavity was constricted, apparently from thickening of the mucous membrane. 25th. – Could take but 10 gr. to – day, as his throat was so painful that it was with difficulty he could swallow. Soon after taking it felt nauseating sickening sensation in the stomach, and increase of all former throat symptoms, with loss of appetite and constipation. 26th.- At 9:40 a.m.took 15 gr. In 15 m. had short hacking cough, with constant painful urging to swallow, which produced nausea and inclination to vomit, with profuse lachrymation. 10, rough, raw scraping in the throat, with constant inclination to swallow, which is very painful. 10:30, sharp, piercing pain extending from throat to left mastoid process of temporal bone, apparently along course of Eustachian tube. 11, constant inclination to hawk up something, which is ineffectual; mucous membrane of the throat and larynx feels thick, and larynx very painful. 11:30, throat very dry and raw, and sanious discharge from nose; nares feel stuffed and full, as in catarrh; discharge is blood – streaked, although he had no catarrhal symptoms at 9 a. m. Constant, short, painful, hacking cough, and what little is coughed up is streaked with blood, as if the throat were raw; very little nausea or pain in stomach compared with yesterday. A great deal of pain in throat all day, particularly no swallowing, for which there appears to be a constant desire. Discharge from nares and larynx is streaked with blood, and there is sensation on hawking or clearing larynx as though surface was raw. 9 a. m., throat, mouth, and lips in particular, are very dry, the latter smart when exposed to the cold air; urine more profuse than usual, and has to be voided more frequently. 27th – Had a restless n. 2:30 p. m., took another 10 gr. In 1/2 hour increase of same smarting burning pain in throat, extending along oesophagus, attended with burning pain in stomach. 4, deep – seated sickening pain in stomach, with raw dryness in the throat, and constant inclination to swallow. 5, during last hours profuse flow of saliva from mouth (so much as to attract attention, although he had more or less all day, but was not sure it was caused by drug), with same constant inclination to swallow manifested after each dose of drug, but has now become very painful. Uvula, soft and fauces mottled dark red colour, with livid spots here and there. Mucous membrane of fauces and posterior wall of pharynx feels thickened, and there is constant hawking up of thick, blood – streaked, tenacious mucus, which appears to be abundant, but in reality is very little; aching pain in region of cricoid cartilage, aggravated by every attempt at deglutition. Appetite not much affected, but obstinate constipation ever since he began to take drug. 28th. – At 6 p. m. took 20 gr. In 15 m. more violent pains in the throat than he had yet experienced, with nausea and vomiting, first of contents of stomach, afterwards of thick ropy fluid, which is ejected in large quantities, but with very little difficulty. Profuse salivation. 6:35, fauces and pharynx are red and very painful, and very efforts of deglutition almost incessant, with profuse flow of saliva, which is allowed to escape from the mouth on account of the pain produced by swallowing. Urine very profuse and clear. 7, nausea and vomiting of the same thick mucus continues; head feels full, face hot, pulse 91, and a profuse perspiration makes its appearance. Compelled to assume recumbent position. Throat feels raw and swollen, and is very painful, even when not attempting to swallow. Profuse flow of watery urine. Slight hemorrhage from nose; feels weak and very much prostrated; efforts of deglutition incessant and very painful. 8:30, took 20 gr. more. In 20 m. felt aggravation of all former symptoms; nausea and vomiting to such a degree that he began to search in vain for an antidote. 9, profuse haemorrhage from nose; constant, intense, painful inclination to swallow, but cannot do so; profuse flow of saliva, with burning, raw, smarting, nauseating pain in fauces, pharynx, larynx, and extending down oesophagus to stomach; vomiting incessant, though painless; everything that is hawked up from the throat is streaked with blood; sanious discharge from nares; posterior nares are painful, and mucous membrane appears to be thickened so as almost to fill the cavity; speech painful and difficult, hoarse, as though he had tonsillitis; pulse 94; considerable difficulty is experienced in opening mouth, on account of soreness of parotid glands and muscles of neck. 9:30, nasal haemorrhage not so profuse as before. 10, almost constant flow of ropy mucus from stomach, which is ejected without pain, but does not in the least remove the nausea. Had a sleepless night; fever, thirst, but inability to drink, and was compelled to urinate 4 or 5 times (an unusual circumstance with him); urine clear, watery, and in considerable quantities each time. 29th. – Did not feel inclined to take any more of drug; could eat no solid food on account of swollen and painful condition of the throat; felt weak and unable to attend to any business; profuse salivation still continues, but has had no vomiting to – day; urine profuse; obstinate constipation. Pulse at 2 p. m. 80. 30th. – Took no more of drug to – day, in order to take something nutritious, as he had been unable to eat for 2 d. Symptoms gradually abating; salivation still profuse, and throat swollen and very painful. May 1st. – Took 30 gr. at 7:35 a. m. In a short time a return of all symptoms previously related, especially inclination to swallow, which had in some degree abated since leaving off use of drug. No new symptoms were developed. 11, took 30 gr. In 1/2 hours return of all symptoms in aggravated form, particularly nose and throat symptoms; coughing or even hawking, brings up sanious fluid; increased flow of saliva, which runs out of mouth almost constantly, with more pain and difficulty of deglutition than ever. Nasal haemorrhage, and vomiting of same ropy fluid, without pain. Pulse at 9 a. m. 95. Head feels dull, throat dry, painful, with incessant attempts at deglutition, which it seems almost impossible to restrain. Uvula oedematous, and very much elongated. 2nd. – At 9 a. m. took 30 gr. Soon felt increase of pain in throat, and constant inclination to swallow. The vomiting, which had ceased last evening, returned in aggravated form, attended with burning, nauseating pain in stomach and duodenum, which became almost insupportable. Salivation profuse; sanious discharge from nares; acute pain in throat, extending to ears and larynx, and producing titillating cough. 12 m. – Soft palate swollen; uvula swollen, and looks oedematous and of a dark red colour; whole throat feels raw, and everything which is raised by coughing is streaked with blood. 3rd. – Repeated dose at 10:30 a. m. Nothing new was developed, but an active increase of all symptoms previous. Muscles of the neck feel sore, particularly digastric and stylo – hyoid; and cervical glands opposite hyoid bone are swollen and very painful. Small ulcerated spots here and there on walls of throat, with stinging, burning pains. 4th. – At 2 p. m. took 30 gr. more. In 30 m. profuse discharge of saliva and urine; nausea and vomiting, and terrible weakness and languor, particularly of lower limbs, which compelled him to lie down. Legs feels as though he could not move them, and tremble when he attempts to stand. Nose feels stuffed and full, and haemorrhage sets in on every attempt to free the obstruction; thin discharge from nares, which excoriates and irritates mucous membrane; throat feels raw, and bleeds upon attempting to hawk up secretion, which appears to completely fill the cavity.
1b. “I could take no more of the drug, from a loathing which would almost produce vomiting to look at it; and although a month has elapsed since I took any of the drug the simplest taste, or even the sight of it, will produce nausea. I took in 10 d.221 gr. of the salt. My partner took 51 gr. in 3 d. Pain, heat and dryness of throat, with constant desire to swallow, although deglutition was painful, were the principal symptoms manifested. My students did not take so much, but in each case the throat was primarily affected”. (Amer. Hom. Observer, iii, 345.).
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.