Introduction
Leptandra virginica, Nutt. Black root, Calver’s physic. Nat. Ord., Scrophulariaceae.
Provings
1a. Dr. BURT, on Jan. 29th, took 1 gr. Leptandrin at 10 a. m. 12 (noon). constant dull frontal headache, worse in temples; constant distress in lower part of epigastric region and umbilicus, by spells there are sharp cuttings pains in same parts. Took 2 gr. at 3 p. m. Slight frontal headache, with dull aching sensation in umbilicus; at times are very sharp pains in same region. Took 4 gr. 9 p. m. frontal headache has been severe; eyes smart and ache very much; same pain in umbilicus; feeling very gloomy. Took 5 gr. 30 th. – Feeling very tired; slept middling well, awoke several times, with severe frontal headache. Took 6 gr. 7 a. m. At 10, dull, slight headache, with slight distress in umbilicus. Took 8 gr. at 12 (noon). Constant, dull headache, very much worse in regions of causality; eyes sore and smart severely; constant aching distress in umbilical region. Took 10 gr. at 2 p. m. Had to ride 10 miles on horseback, did not notice any symptoms. At 6 p. m took 15 gr. 9, same effects on head, eyes and abdomen. Urine slightly acid, no stool today. 31 st. – Restless n. after 12, pains and distress in bowels preventing sleep; feeling very languid; dull pain lower right hypochondriac region; tongue coated yellow along centre. Took 20 gr. 8 a. m. Stool, first part hard, black and lumpy, afterwards soft and mushy. At 12 (noon) slight frontal headache, eyes smart very much, frequent dull aching pain in lower r hypochondriac region near gall bladder, with dull aching distress in umbilical region, and rumblings in bowels. Took 25 gr. at 2 p. m. Dull aching distress in whole of liver that extends to spine, most in region of gall bladder; great distress in whole of the bowels, with sharp cutting pains, rumbling and desire for stool, stool soft and mushy, followed by very weak feeling in bowels and rectum. 5, frontal headache; eyes smart a great deal; constant, burning aching distress in region of stomach and liver; dull aching distress in umbilical and hypogastric regions. Took 25 gr. at 9 p. m. Dull frontal headache, which is very deep in cerebrum; eyes smart very much; burning distress in whole epigastric and hypochondriac regions; constant dull aching distress in umbilical and hypogastric regions, with very sharp pains every few m.; feeling very weak and faint; constant dull aching pain in right inguinal region, which passes down to right testicle, the pain hard to endure; dull aching in lumbar region; urine rather scanty, does not affect blue litmus paper. Feb.1st. – Restless n. after 12; skin hot and dry, with frequent pain in bowels; eyelids agglutinated; unpleasant flat taste in mouth, tongue coated yellow along centre; great rumbling and distress in hypogastric region, with a profuse, black, very fetid, soft, papescent stool, with slight pain in bowels afterwards; feeling very languid. At 6 a. m. took 30 gr. ii, frequent dull aching distress in umbilical and hypogastric region. Took 40 gr. at 2 p. m. For the last 2 hours has been in awful pain and distress in umbilical and hypogastric regions, which drinking cold water aggravates very much; dull aching burning distress in region of gall bladder, with frequent chilliness along spine; great distress in hypogastric region with great desire for stool; very profuse black stool, about consistence of cream, with undigested potatoes in it; this gave great relief, but was followed by great distress in region of liver, extending to spine; it is of a hot and aching character, with chilliness along the spine. 5, slight frontal headache with sharp pains in temples; there has been constant distress, with very sharp pains by spells, in lumbar region. 10, slight frontal headache, with sharp pains in temples; constant distress with pains in whole of abdomen, since 5 p. m., but for last hours the pains in umbilical and hypogastric regions have been awful to endure, with rumbling and great desire for stool; very profuse, black, fetid stool, that streamed from the bowels, and could not be retained a moment, which gave a great relief, but did not stop the pain altogether. Urine very red, does not affect blue litmus paper. 2nd. – Slept soundly, feeling very languid, both wrists are lame and ache quite severely, left aches the most, pain lasting until noon; tongue coated yellow along centre, flat taste along mouth; immediately after getting up very severe aching distress in epigastric region. At 10 a. m., distress in stomach constantly getting worse, cannot sit or stand still, it is so severe; food rise very soon; the painful distress in stomach has been unendurable all forenoon, a hard, aching, burning sensation appearing to be in stomach. 9 p. m., distress in stomach has not been so hard, but has had severe pains in umbilical region all afternoon; urine neutral, no stool to-day. 3rd. – Slept soundly; awoke at 5 a. m., feeling very hungry. with great pain in epigastric region, which continued till after breakfast; frequent pains in epigastric region all day 4th. – Slept well; great desire for food stool, first part natural, second part soft and mushy. 1b. February 5th. – Awoke 2 a. m., feeling very hungry, has a great appetite. 11 a. m. took 20 drops of fluid extract of Leptandra. 12 (noon), dull frontal headache; profuse secretion of tears; dull aching distress in stomach and umbilical region. 3 p. m., slight headache, constant aching distress in umbilicus with sharp pains by spells, sharp cutting pains near gall bladder. took 30 dr. at 4 p. m.; dull frontal headache, with sensation as if hair were pulled at; good deal of distress in stomach and bowels, with burning sensation. 6 p. m., dull, aching distress in umbilicus; took 40 dr. 10 p. m., there has been much distress in umbilicus, with great burning distress in back part of liver and in spine; soft mushy stool; took 50 dr. 6 th. -Slept well; arose once in n., and immediately felt sick at stomach, with deathly faintness; tongue coated yellow, flat taste in mouth. 7 a. m., took 60 dr.; 10, slight headache; great distress in small intestines and desire for stool; soft stool, very fetid and black; took 70 dr. Noon, dull aching distress in umbilical region, with very sharp pains by spells; took 80 dr. 3 p. m., slight frontal headache; eyes smart a good deal; constant dull aching pain in cardiac portion of stomach; great distress in umbilicus; took 100 dr. 10, slight frontal headache, with neuralgic pain in right temple; eyes smarting constantly, with dull pains in eye balls; very severe pain in stomach and small intestines, with great distress and desire for stool; stool soft, very fetid and mushy; very gloomy and irritable all day; took 120 dr. 7th. – Up all n. with a patient; had very severe pains in umbilical and hypogastric regions; stool at 3 a. m., which ran as a stream from bowels, followed by very severe cutting pains in intestines. 8 a. m., very severe frontal headache, almost intolerable on walking; great distress in stomach and all the small intestines, with great desire for stool, that could not be retained one moment, -it ran as stream from bowels, very fetid, containing large quantities of mucus, followed by severe pain in hypogastric region; took 160 dr. 10 a. m., there has been constant and very violent frontal headache; great distress in stomach and small intestines, with frequent pains in umbilicus, causing him to feel very faint and weak; great rumblings in bowels; stool that could not be retained, consisting of water and large quantities of mucus and little yellow matter, followed by hard pains in umbilicus; very giddy while walking; quite weary and languid, could hardly walk. 12 (noon), severe frontal headache; constant dull burning aching distress in whole of bowels, with frequent pain and rumbling, and great desire for stool; stool of water and mucus, followed by very hard pain in hypogastric and umbilical regions; another very profuse, thin stool, with large quantities of mucus; very weak and languid, compelled to go to bed. 5., Slept 2 hours, awoke with great distress in whole of bowels, and great desire for stool; profuse watery stool mixed with mucus, that could not be retained; another stool of water and mucus, with part natural faces, very fetid. 6, another stool containing large quantities of mucus, followed by sharp cutting pains and great distress in umbilical region; feeling very weak and faint. 9, another profuse stool that could not be retained, followed by severe pains in bowels; very severe frontal headache. 8th – Slept soundly; feeling very languid; tongue coated yellow along centre; dull aching distress in bowels during the n. had frequent pains in umbilicus, with much rumbling all day; no stool; great appetite. 9 th. – Loss of sleep last n., and feeling bad today; frequent pains in bowels all day, with severe headache; no stool. Next day – Slept well; feeling very well, excepting frequent pains in umbilical region; soft, yellow papescent stool, preceded by pain in umbilical region. (HALE, New Remedies, 2nd ed.)
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.