Introduction
Mercuric oxide, HgO.
Provings
I. Dr. EISELT took, while observing a strict dietetic regimen, gr. 1/6, 1/4, and j n. and m., without effect. He then took 2 gr. m. and e. On 1st n. he was attacked with painful colic and constant tenesmus which grew worse and worse, spreading through whole intestinal tract, and causing in anus a feeling as if a red – hot iron were moving up and down in it. Though the tenesmus was most violent, nothing passed but a small quantity of blood, with severe cutting and burning. When nausea and burning at stomach set in, he took demulcents, and was well in 2 d. After waiting a day longer, he begin to take 3 gr. m. and evening, increasing grain by grain up to 6. There followed a peculiar itching in the whole lining of the buccal cavity, without salivation or toothache; offensive breath; and soon after burning pain inside both lips, which were much swollen. In a mirror he saw characteristic mercurial ulcers there. He discontinued the experiment (having taken over 34 gr.), rinsed mouth with in. salv., and in a few day all was right again. (FRANK’s Mag., i.772).
Poisonings
1. A man, aet. 51, in good health, swallowed at midnight of July 7th, 1888, a powder containing about a teaspoonful of M. ox. rub. On admission to hospital at 2 a. m. he was unconscious, and vomiting (he had taken an emetic, which had apparently been ineffective). Pupils inactive to light; face and hands cold, bathed in sweat; pulse weak but not abnormally rapid. Did not answer questions or put out his tongue, but kept his teeth clenched. There was otherwise general muscular relaxation, and he passed his evacuations under him. The stomach was washed out and he was ordered milk, & c., in small quantities. 11 a. m., has kept little down; still insensible, but pupils react to light. Bowels have acted twice, first motion consisting of loose faecal matter with mucus, second fluid and greenish, containing little faecal matter, but mucus and streaks of blood. 4 p. m., consciousness returned, apparently cannot protrude tongue beyond teeth. Complains of epigastric pain and tenderness, and of cramps in legs. Abdomen rigid in upper part, and slightly distended. 9th. – Patient better, but abdominal symptoms still continue. After this he gradually improved; vomiting and diarrhoea ceased; and he left hospital well. (Lancet, 1888, ii, 570.)
2. A young girl took a goodly portion of red precipitate in confectionery. Violent stomach – ache, which she tried to conceal as much as possible. Finally vomiting set in, by means of which a portion of the poison was expelled. The pains extended over the entire abdomen. Suspicion being aroused, she received a large portion of hot milk. The abdominal pains grew worse and worse; copious diarrhoea, with very painful cramps in the lower extremities. This condition lasted fully 6 h. The physician who was called found the abdomen hard and contracted, the skin cold and covered with sweat, terrible pains in the abdomen. Injections of bran – water with five drops of laudanum were ordered every 1/2 h. The pains and diarrhoea grew less; night sweat followed; the patient slept several hours, and was in a very satisfactory condition next m. There remained a remarkable sensitiveness of the abdomen, and a peculiar tendency to involuntary spasmodic contractions of the extremities. Several day later the patient resumed her duties. (ORFILA, op. cit.)
3. A woman aet, 36 in seventh month of pregnancy, took by mistake a large pinch of red precipitate. In order to promote perspiration she went to bed. In an hours she had nausea, vomiting, oppression of the chest, pains in stomach and entire abdomen. After vomiting several times, the attacks abated, with the exception of some pain in the abdomen; she arose and sent to her sister’s house in the neighborhood. She had scarcely reached the house when all the symptoms returned, only the vomiting so much more violent and frequent as to bring up a quantity of blood, which was followed by fainting. After being revived by strong smelling – salts, the vomiting returned with the same force, now accompanied by diarrhoea. The pains in the abdomen became unbearable; thereto was added burning in the mouth and throat, with unquenchable thirst. Nothing of any importance being done, trembling likewise followed. On the 3rd day the condition was the following: – Trembling all over; extraordinary redness of the whole face and eyes; staring wild look; specific, intolerable odour of ptyalism. In a short time she again vomited, twice bringing up a quantity of blackish blood. The gums swollen and inflamed; the tongue so thick as to fill the entire mouth, and in several places as if ulcerated through. The buccal cavity had the appearance as if lined with a thick crust of old rotten cheese. The larynx was also swollen and even inflamed on the outside. The pulse rapid, small and hard. The abdomen, already enlarged by pregnancy, was swollen to bursting, and so sensitive that the patient could not bear the slightest touch. She had not felt child’s motion all d. She received sulph. pot. boiled in water, and mucilaginous drinks. The vomiting stopped after the first dose, and she felt great relief; the remedy was therefore also given in injections. At 3 p. m. she again complained of nausea, and dreaded return of the vomiting of blood. She felt oppressed about the chest. After letting blood these attacks disappeared, and no vomiting followed. On the 4th day the other symptoms abated, but she could not sleep on account of severe pain in the mouth. The putridity of the mouth was at its worst; the teeth could scarcely be seen on account of the swollen gums and the collection of mucus. The tongue had two holes large enough to admit a finger; it was actually deformed. On the 5th day, marked chemosis of the eyes; this was removed by an eye – wash. Gradually all symptoms improved, the woman got well, and in due time was delivered of a healthy child. (Hufeland’s Journal, B. lv, 1822.)
4. A girl, aet. 22, came into the hospital with the following symptoms: Cold clammy skin, especially on the extremities; stupor, similar to narcosis. Pupils somewhat dilated, and still somewhat sensitive to light. Pulse frequent, small, weak; eructations, foaming at the mouth, occasional vomiting. The fluid first vomited contained red powder. Pressure on abdomen and epigastrium produced no pain. Blood was not contained in the vomit. The stomach – pump was used, and white of egg given. In 8 hours the skin was hot and red. Pressing sensation in the region of stomach and abdomen; cramps in legs; vomiting of mucus; dryness, pain, and redness of pharynx. Pain when urinating, yet the urine was neither scanty nor bloody. Several painless stools, mixed with blood; tongue dry, but neither furred nor red; pupils slightly dilated; small thread – like pulse. Chemical analysis showed red precipitate. (HUBER, op. cit.)
5. A journeyman mechanic, aet. 36, swallowed, on the 6th of July, 1835, at 8 p. m, an ounce of red precipitate, which produced violent cramps, retching, vomiting, and such prostration that he could not stand on his feet. Bloody stool, with pain and tenesmus. Next day at 10 a. m., he was brought to the hospital, with the following symptoms: Sunken, thin, bluish face, with sunken eyes surrounded by blue circles, and an expression of great suffering; great prostration, nausea, pressing in epigastrium, rumbling in abdomen, frequent watery stools. Received milk emulsions, with small doses of tartar emetic. In the evening, the vomiting had stopped, but the sensitiveness of abdomen increased. Slept a little during then., but towards m. complained of cold feet and great weakness. Although covered with several blankets, he could not get warm. July 8th, 6 a. m. – The entire surface of the skin was livid; the extremities cold, the muscles rigid and clearly defined, the countenance void of expression; the voice weak, indistinct; the heart – beat scarcely perceptible. Bathed in camphor – vinegar. Dead in 3 h. Post – mortem showed great venous engorgement of the membranes of the brain and choroid plexus. The right heart and large vessels filled with black fluid blood. The lining of the oesophagus discoloured; the papillae of the tongue swollen. Mucous membrane of stomach corroded, especially in the large curvature; particles of the poison had become embedded in the coats of the stomach and had produced numerous small ulcers, with raised edges, tumefaction and sponginess of the membrane, each ulcer with a particle of the parson lodged in its centre. The stomach and duodenum each contained a brownish turbid fluid, full of precipitate; the duodenum contained., besides, larger pieces of the metallic oxide. The anterior surface of the stomach, the omentum, and the intestines were inflamed. (Buchner’s Repert., 2 right, Bd. 3).
Experiments on animals
1. Half an ounce of red precipitate was applied to the thigh of a dog. Besides general weakness, no symptoms appeared. In 4 1/2 day death occurred. The post – mortem examination showed the stomach bluish red, the duodenum white. The rectum had undergone a remarkable change. The inner membrane was soft, tumefied, in ragged folds, cauliflower – like, of a dirty, bluish red colour; the peritoneal membrane was unchanged and bluish red. The blood – vessels on the surface of the heart injected; beneath the lining membrane of the ventricles were noticed reddish streaks. The base of the tongue was somewhat swollen. (HUBER, op. cit.).
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.