Introduction
Cinchona Calisaya, Wedd. Peruvian bark. Nat. Ord., Rubiaceae.
Provings
1. HAHNEMANN, Fragmenta de viribus. Contains 122 symptoms from self, and 99 from authors.
2. IBID., Mat. Medorrhinum Pura, vol. iii of original, vol. i of translation. Contains 427 symptoms from self, 575 from 21 fellow-observers, and 141 from authors. 3. IBID. “I took, by way of experiment, for several day 3iv or good bark twice a d. My feet, finger-ends, &c., first became cold, and I felt tired and sleepy, then my heart began to beat, and my pulse became hard and quick; I got an insufferable feeling of uneasiness, a trembling (but without rigor). a weariness in all my limbs; then a beating in my head, redness of the cheeks, thirst,-in short, all the old symptoms with which I was familiar in ague appeared one after another, yet without any actual chill or rigor. In brief, even those particularly characteristic symptoms which I was wont to observe in agues – obtuseness of the senses, kind of rigidity in limbs, but especially that numb disagreeable feeling which seems to have its seat in the periosteum of all the bones of the body-all put in an appearance. This paroxysm lasted each time 2 or 3 hours, and came on afresh whenever I repeated the dose, but not otherwise. I left off, and was quite well.” (Note to trans. of CULLEN’S Mat. Med
4. JORG instituted provings with a tinct. of 1 part to 6, and with powdered (yellow) bark.
4a. ENDERS, Nov. 21st, 1821, took 18 dr. of tinct. in 3j of water. Soon after nauseous taste had subsided, agreeable warmth from stomach to navel. 22nd. – 36 dr. in 3ij. On 23rd, two stools, contrary to custom. 24th. – At 9 a. m., soon after dinner, considerable palpitation; increased by movement, lessened by quiet, continuing till 7. Feeling nervous and anxious, went to bed as early as 8:15, soon fell asleep, but awoke frequently. 26th. – Awakened at 3 a. m. by considerable palpitation, not lessened by any change of posture, but increased by lying on left side; pulse small. At 4 this subsided, and he fell asleep again. At 9 it returned with diminished force, but increased with motion of body. Towards evening perfectly well again; bowels not moved till next day (JORG. Kritische Hefte, 1823, hours 2.)
5. HACKER, aet. 20. Nov. 21st. – Took 18 dr. of tinct. in water; inclination to vomit, nausea, eructations, flatulent discharges. 22nd. – 36 dr.. in 3ij; same results only. 24th. – 70 dr. in 3ij. Less appetite, more frequent eructations, discharges of every foetid flatus, less nausea, but more turgor of cutaneous veins. 25th. – 120 dr. in a tumbler; same effects, with thinner stools and painful sensation in his haemorrhoids; on each of the succeeding n. not inconsiderable emission; greater prominence of cutaneous veins. (Ibid )
6. FRAUTHMANN, aet. 23. 21st. – 18 dr. in 3j at 9 a. m. Continued bitter eructations till mid – day; agreeable warmth in abdomen; rumblings and rattlings in intestines; urine somewhat darker; no evacuation for 2 days 22nd. – 36 dr. in 3 ij. Same effects; belly much swollen for a short time till eructation occurred. 24th. – 70 dr. in 3ij. In 1 hour nausea, constant eructations, bitter slimy taste, watering of mouth; scanty and dark-coloured urine. Dec. 3rd. – 140 dr.; besides effect of former doses, no appetite all day (Ibid )
7a. MEURER, aet 27. a. Dec. 9th. – At a. m., took 3ij of powder stirred up with 3ij of water. Directly after, tasteless eructations till towards evening at 11 sharp pains in abdomen for 8 m.; from 2 violent flatulence. At 5 same dose, followed by eructations as before; unquiet sleep, interrupted by erections. 10th. – No eructations, but more flatus than usual; n. as last. Appetite throughout rather increased.
7b.- 18th. – Took 3j of tinct. in 3vj of water at 9 a. m., and repeated dose at 10:30. At 5 and 9 p. m. took 3ij. No immediate effects save eructations, and the elevation induced by the alcohol. Very sound sleep, only twice awakened by thirst and two calls to urine (unusual). 19th. – Head somewhat affected; throughout day, during digestion, colicky pains; two pappy stools. No further symptoms. (Ibid)
8a. STEINBACH, aet. 23. a. Dec. 9th. – At 9 a. m., took powder as 7 a, repeating at 5 p. m. Nothing noticed save eructations, and a rather harder stool. Costiveness continued during 10th and 11th.
8b. Dec. 18th. – Took tinct. as 7 b. After each dose slightly intoxicated, excited, and cheerful; appetite very good. In evening, feeling lively, lay on sofa and smoked. At 11:15, quite unexpectedly, slight vomiting, chiefly of sour – tasting water, smelling of tinct. Slept for some hours, waking frequently, as after unusual alcoholic potations during day 19th. – Head still somewhat affected. Nothing more or further. (Ibid.)
9. KLEMM, aet. 34, took same doses as 7 and 8. Nothing after powder save costiveness, and nothing whatever (he being used to spirits) after tinct. (Ibid.)
10. GUNTZ. aet. 21, took same. After Ist dose or powder nausea and weight at stomach; after 2nd some spasm there. Two stools next m.; for 5 days after rather. costive. tinct. produced nothing but slight intoxication. (Ibid)
11. WALTL took daily 3ij of powder. Nothing noticed till 4th and 5th day, when unusual appetite came on, so that he ate twice as much as usual; at same time motions were easier. then took 3ss
or tinct. daily. Appetite continued the same; but he felt no other unusual symptoms (A. h. Z., xx, 367.)
12. PIPER took an injection containing 3j of powder. In 5 m. nausea and hot rising from stomach; soon after, taste of bark quite sensible all over mouth; some confusion of head with tensive pain in forehead and orbits; movement of eyes painful, with feeling of mechanical hindrance; nausea, and such active disturbance in abdomen that he was obliged to eject clyster in 10 m. Evacuation delayed by tenesmus; pain in head suddenly ceased, and patient saw closet (in which a candle was burning) all in dazzling sulphur-yellow light, a few m. later glittering with rosy light. On returning to sitting-room illusion passed off, and did not recur. Pain in eyes and nausea in slighter degree till he fell asleep. No further symptoms. ( Ibid., xix, 202.).
13. Woman took 10 dr. of tinct. Sleeplessness entire night; right sided face-ache; profuse perspiration, with feverish heat; dreadful feeling of excitement; face flushed and swollen; needle – like pains in left face, chest and hand. (ROBINSON, B.J. of H, xxv, 323.)
14. Young woman took 3 dr. 3 times a d. After 3rd day cold colicky cramp in bowels, followed by slight diarrhoea. (Ibid)
15. JOHN M. WALKER tested effects on pulse.
15a. Pulse 64. After 12 gr. of red bark, it rose between 10 and 70m,. to 72, and became full and tense, gradually declining to normal during 35 m. more. At height of action there was slight headache.
15b. Pulse 64. After 12 gr. of resin rose during corresponding time to 73, falling in 25 m. Face flushed at acme of effect. Pulse noted as “full” only.
15c.. Pulse 66. After 12 gr. of extra. fell in first 5 m. to 60, but was full and strong; then rose during 40 m. more to 72, full and tense; falling during 40 m. more.
15d. Pulse 72. After 12 gr. of gum, similar change in quality, and rise (45-55m.) to 82. After 75 m. was still 75.
15e. Pulse 72. After 2 oz. of decoction, in 5 m. became 62 and soft, became gradually quicker and fuller, till in 75 – 90 m. it was 77, tense, with flushed face. After 100 m. 66 and full. Pulse 64. After 2 oz. of infusion, gradual rise, with increase of fullness and tension, to 76 (60 – 80 m.); fall occupied 20 m. more. (ALLEN’S Encyclopedia, x, 460.).
16.If a man in perfect health takes a small or moderate dose of bark, no obvious effects are produced,- or perhaps a little thirst, with some slight disorder of stomach; or a temporary excitement of appetite may be brought on. If the dose be increased, the alimentary canal becomes disordered (indicated by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, thirst, and constipation, or even purging); a febrile state of the system is set. up (manifested by excitement of the vascular system, and dry tongue); and the cerebro-spinal system becomes disordered, as is shown by the throbbing headache and giddiness. The disturbance of the functions of the stomach is produced not only when the bark is given in the more nauseating form of powder, but also in the form of infusion, decoction, or tincture. (PEREIRA, Opium cit).
Poisonings.
1. a. There are two diseases which the manufacture of quinine from bark induces in the workmen. The first is the so-called “Quinine fever.” to which those only are subject who work in the mill, and are much exposed to the bark-dust. This manifests itself in chill and heat, like an intermittent. But according to all our experience it always comes to an end with one violent fit, without the use of any medicine whatsoever; and it is remarkable that the workmen who have once got over this single fit can ever after expose themselves with impunity to the dust; only a few, however, incur the risk, the greater part preferring to give up the employment. this fever attacks all the workmen, with very few exceptions, who inhale much of the dust.
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.