Cuprum Metallicum
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 16,653 chars · source ↗
General
Cuprum Metallicum.
Copper. Cu. (A. W. 63). Trituration.
Clinical
After-pains. Angina pectoris. Asthma. Asthma millari. Cardialgia. Catarrh. Chlorosis. Cholera. Chorea. Convulsions. Cough. Cramps. Croup. Cyanosis. Dentition. Dyspnoea. Emissions. Epilepsy. Eruptions. Erysipelas. Fainting. Gastric disturbance. Gout. Haematemesis. Herpes. Hysteria. Inflammations. Larynx, spasm of. Mania. Measles. Meningitis. Neuralgia. Palpitation. Paralysis. Pneumonia. Psoriasis. Ringworm. Sleeplessness. Spasms. Spinal irritation. Ulcers. Whooping-cough. Yellow fever.
Characteristics
Metallic copper is an antipsoric remedy, working from within outwards. It ranks with the most important of those which relieve states arising from the "striking inward" of diseases or the failure of eruptions or discharges to appear. It is this power to relieve internal spasm which renders it appropriate to the collapse stage of cholera, of which it is also, like Sulphur, a prophylactic either when worn next the skin, or when taken internally. Cuprum produces many skin eruptions, and also foot-sweat, and it corresponds to these, and also to the effects of suppression of eruptions, exanthems, and foot-sweat; whether these effects be internal pains or spasms or oppression of the brain and mental disturbance.
Mackechnie made a brilliant cure of psoriasis in a young girl with Cuprum. The leading features of its symptomatology are: Cramps, convulsions, spasms of the most violent form, coming on from disappearance of pains, discharges, eruptions, mental derangement. With suppression of menses, patient screams. Tonic spasms of thumbs.
Eyeballs turn up. Opisthotonos. Tonic and clonic spasms. "Convulsions during pregnancy and puerperal convulsions which begin in the fingers or toes, and spread all over the body; or where there is great restlessness between the attacks, either filling up the entire interval, or only a part of the time." Thus Guernsey.
He also says that "a slimy metallic taste in the mouth" is one of the strongest indications for Cupr. Rhus is the only other remedy which has this symptom so marked. "Cramps or spasms beginning in hands and feet, extending to belly," is confirmed by J. C.
McLaren. Mossa regards Cupr. as one of the remedies for the effects of fright, and relates the case of a girl who, after a fright, was affected by involuntary motions of left arm and leg developing into pronounced general chorea. Cupr. brought about slow but decided recovery. Another girl, 12, who had recovered from whooping-cough got a kind of chorea from repeated frights on seeing an epileptic.
To the muscular movements was added silly behaviour: tongue heavy, speech slow, gait unwieldy. Frightened at night. Greediness in eating and drinking. Ign., Stram., Sul., did little good.
She became ill-natured. Cupr. every four days cured completely in three months. Mackechnie reports the case of a boy who became epileptic after being locked up in school. Very great improvement followed the administration of Cupr.
Schwencke cured a case of epilepsy of forty years' standing with Cupr. 6 after Bell. and Hyo. had done some little good. The patient was a man aged 45. The fits began suddenly towards morning with chewing motion of lower jaw; gnashing of teeth; becomes upright and rigid in bed; shrieks; limbs convulsed. After giving way to violent anger, attacks become more severe; arms and legs were thrown outwards and trunk arched upwards.
Cupr. was now given. For a time the attacks continued severe, but gradually improvement set in, and in less than three months they ceased altogether. The "anger" in this case and the "ill-humour" in Mossa's are noteworthy. Maliciousness is an indication for Cupr.
In a second case cured by Schwencke, that of a man, 38, epileptic seven years, a pressive headache preceded the attacks, ascending from nape to forehead; then there was profuse salivation, head turned to left, eyes closed, tongue in active motion in open mouth, trunk arched upward, slight spasms of right arm outward. After attack, dulness of head, and feeling in body as if beaten. Cupr. first removed the fits and then the dulness of the head. Cupr. has pains like knife-thrusts, < on least motion; take away the breath, thinks he must die if they last.
Speaks in a whisper. The thrusts go through to back from ensiform cartilage, from umbilicus. Restless tossing all night. Perfect stupor, with jerking of muscles.
Paralysis of isolated muscles. Many unusual symptoms are produced, including maliciousness and desire to injure. Screaming, with cerebral or mental symptoms. Loquacious.
Violent head pains < over left eye. Brain seems paralysed. Chlorosis from abuse of iron. Vomiting, hiccoughs, and spasms > by drink of cold water.
Over-sensitiveness of skin, especially in region of stomach and fourth and fifth dorsal vertebrae. Touch and pressure <. < Before menses; from vomiting. Symptoms are < evening and night.
Cold air and cold wind <; cold drinks > (colic, cough &c.). Wrapping head > headache. < At new moon. Periodicity every 15, 30, or 60 minutes; every fortnight.
Getting wet = epileptic attacks. > From being mesmerised; during perspiration. Suited to fair-haired people; and the carbo-nitrogenoid constitution. Women who have borne many children (after-pains).
Relations
Is antidoted by: Sugar, or white of egg mixed with milk and given freely. Hepar, or potash soap may be used after poisoning from food prepared in copper vessels. Aggravations are > by smelling Camphor. Dynamic antidotes: Bell., Cham., Chi., Con., Cic., Dulc., Hep., Ip., Merc., Nux v.
Antidote to: Aur., Merc., Op. Complementary: Calc. Compare: Other Copper preparations, Calc. c., Gels. (overworked brain);
Cicut. and Solaneaceae (mental symptoms); Silic. (head pains > wrapping up head). Nux, Phos., Coloc., Camph., Secal., Verat., Arn., Apis., Zinc., Puls., Arsen.
As if in a dream (Amb., Anac., Calc., Can. i., &c.) Loquacity (Hyo., Lach., Op., Stram., Ver.) Lack of reaction (Sul., Carb. v., Lauro., Val., Ambra, Caps., Pso., Op., Bell., Stram., Bry., Apis).
Causation
Suppressions. Fright.
Mind
Melancholy, with attacks of extreme anguish, like fear of death; restlessness, groaning, and desire to escape
Want of moral courage
Anxiety and tears, alternating with buffoonery
Convulsive laughter
Incoherent, delirious talk
Mildness, alternating with obstinacy
Unfitness for exertion, with fear to be idle
Fits of abstraction, with fixed ideas of imaginary occupations at which the patient labours, or with lively songs; or else with malice and moroseness (with proud bearing, and at times interrupted by clonic spasms; craziness), and often with quick pulse, red and inflamed eyes, wandering looks, followed by sweat
Attacks of rage (wants to bite the bystanders)
Furor
Dementia
Loss of sense and thought
Delirium.
Head
Vertigo on reading, and on looking into the air
Whirling vertigo, as if the head were going to fall forward (< during motion, > when lying down)
Sensation (painful) as if the head were empty
Pain in the parietal bone, so as to cause, crying out on putting the hand upon it
Pain as from a bruise in the brain, and in the orbits, on moving the eyes
Stupefying depression in the head, with tingling in the vertex
Aching in the temples, < by the touch
Pulling in the head, with vertigo, > by lying down
Headache, in consequence of an epileptic attack
External, burning shootings, in the side of the forehead, in the temples, and in the vertex
Pains in the occiput and in the nape of the neck, on moving the head
Swelling of the head, with redness of the face
Distortion of the head on one side and backwards; the head is drawn to one side or falls forward; aggravated or renewed by each contact (hydrocephalus)
Purplish-red swelling of the head; face purple-red and blue lips; convulsion and twitches in the limbs;
< when touched, which causes the swelling to pain.
Eyes
Itching (violent) in the eyes towards evening
Aching in the eyes and in the eyelids, < by the touch
Eyes, red, inflamed, wandering, or fixed (staring), sunken
Convulsions and restless movements of the eyes
Eyes are turned upward
Greater immobility of the pupils
Eyes prominent and sparkling
Eyes closed (weak and dim)
Pupils insensible
Obscuration of the sight
Pains resembling a bruise in the orbits on turning the eyes.
Ears
Itching in the ears
Tearing in the ears
Pressure on the ears, as from a hard body
Boring pain in and behind the ear.
Nose
Strong congestion in the nose
Stoppage of the nose
Violent fluent coryza.
Face
Face pale (changed features, full of anguish), with eyes downcast and surrounded by a livid circle
Face bluish; bluish-red
Spasmodic distortion of the muscles of the face
Sad and anxious air
Redness of the face
Lips bluish
Excoriation of the upper lip
Aching of the lower jaw, increased by the touch
Spasm in the jaw.
Teeth
Odontalgia, with acute pullings, extending into the temples.—Difficult dentition in children, with convulsions.
Mouth
Mouth clammy in the morning
Accumulation of water in the mouth
Foam at the mouth
Sweet taste in the mouth
Burning sensation in the mouth
Coldness of the tip of the tongue
Tongue clammy, loaded with a white coating
Hoarse crying like a child
Cries, like the croaking of frogs
Loss of speech.
Throat
Inability to talk, on account of spasms in the throat
Dryness of the throat, with thirst
Inflammation of the pharynx, with impeded deglutition
Singultus and spasm of the oesophagus
Desire for warm food; eats hastily
Audible sound of drink (gurgling) while swallowing it
Swelling of the glands of the neck.
Appetite
Taste, sweetish, or metallic, acid, or salt
Watery taste of food
Desire for cold things in preference to hot.
Stomach
Constant risings
Hiccough
Singultus preceding the spasms
Flow of water like saliva, after taking milk
Nausea, with inclination to vomit, extending from the abdomen to the gullet; but chiefly in the epigastrium, with a feeling like intoxication, loathing, and putrid taste in the mouth
Violent periodical vomitings, mitigated by drinking
Vomiting is prevented by drinking cold water
Vomiting in general, which is very severe
Vomiting of bile, of water (containing flakes, offensive-smelling), of slimy matter, or even of blood
Violent vomitings, with pressure in the stomach, cramps in the abdomen, diarrhoea, and convulsions
Cramps in the stomach
Excessively troublesome pressure on the stomach, and on the epigastrium, < by touch and by movement
Anguish in the epigastrium
Gnawing and corroding sensation in the stomach.
Abdomen
Pain, as from a bruise, in the hypochondria, on the part being touched
Drawing pains from l. hypochondrium to the hip
Violent pains in the abdomen, with great anxiety
Abdomen hard, with violent pains on its being touched
Pressure in the abdomen, as from a hard body, aggravated by the touch
Retraction of the abdomen
Spasmodic colic, with convulsions and shrill cries
Tearing and gnawing (corroding, stinging ulcers) in the intestines.
Stool And Anus
Constipation, with great heat of body
Violent diarrhoea (with flakes), sometimes sanguineous
Bleeding of haemorrhoidal tumours.
Urinary Organs
Urgent want to make water, with scant emission
Frequent emission of fetid (dark-red, turbid, with yellowish sediment), viscid urine
Burning shootings in the urethra, during and subsequent to the emission of urine
Wetting the bed at night.
Male Sexual Organs
Swelling of the penis, with inflammation of the glans.
Female Sexual Organs
Before the catamenia, ebullition of blood, palpitation of the heart, and headache
Menstruation too late; protracted; complaints before
Menses absent for months; violent delirium
Before, and during menses, cramps, convulsions, piercing shrieks; spasmodic dyspnoea; violent palpitation
Menses not appearing after suppression of foot-sweat
Torpid chlorosis.
Respiratory Organs
Obstinate hoarseness, with great inclination to lie down
Bronchial râle, as if from mucus
Tickling in the larynx
Dry cough, with fits of suffocation, like whooping-cough
Spasmodic affections generally; whooping-cough where the attacks run into catalepsy; movements of the head; epilepsy
Cough, with expectoration of whitish mucus, during fits of spasmodic asthma
Asthma increases (at 3 a.m.) when bending the body backwards, when coughing, when laughing
Cough, in the morning, with expectoration of putrid matter.
Chest
Respiration accelerated, rattling, moaning, with convulsive efforts of the abdominal muscles.
Short, difficult respiration, with spasmodic cough, and crepitation in the chest
Cough, with wheezing respiration at each effort to breathe
Difficulty of respiration, increased by coughing, laughing, throwing back the body, &c., as well as in the night
Asthma when ascending or walking quickly, with necessity to breathe deeply
Spasmodic asthma
Fits of suffocation
Pressure on the chest
Painful contraction of the chest, esp. after drinking
Cramps in the chest, which cut short the respiration and the voice (after fright and anger).
Heart
Spasm of heart
Angina pectoris
Palpitation of the heart (before the menses)
Pulse very changeable; imperceptible; small; soft.
Neck And Back
Sensation of heaviness in the axillary glands
Swelling of the glands of the neck
Paralysis of muscles of back up to neck.
Hyperaesthesia of spinal column
Backache top of sacrum.
Limbs
Cramps of limbs; contraction of joints.
Upper Limbs
Herpes in the bends of the elbows (forming yellow scales, itching, esp. in evening)
Swelling of the hand, with inflammation of a lymphatic vessel extending to the shoulder
The arms and hands are bluish marbled
Aching and acute pullings in the metacarpal bones
Weakness and paralysis of the hand
Starting of the hands, in the morning, after rising
Torpor and shivering of the fingers
Convulsions in the fingers, particularly which begin in the fingers and toes, then spreading all over the body; spasms clonic.
Lower Limbs
Pains in the legs, esp. in the calves of the legs during repose
Tensive pain and cramps in the calves of the legs
In the knee-joint weakness, pain as if broken
Twitching of the muscles of the lower extremities
Pressive and drawing pains in the metatarsus
Burning sensation in the soles of the feet
Sweat in the feet
Suppression of sweat in the feet
Painful weariness and stiffness in the limbs
Convulsions in the toes.
Generalities
Pressive tearings or startings in the limbs Pain, as from a bruise in several places, esp. in the joints and in the limbs Aching in the bones Rheumatic pains
Many pains, esp. those which are aching, are < on being touched Shaking pains, which traverse the whole body Shocks or painful blows in different parts On weeping, convulsions, with want of breath, and retraction of the thighs
Clonic spasms Tonic spasms with loss of consciousness, turning of the head backwards, redness of the eyes, salivation, and frequent emission of urine Convulsions, with piercing cries Epileptic convulsions
Epileptic attacks (at night), followed by headache Involuntary movements of the limbs, as in St. Vitus' dance, with redness of the face, distortion of the eyes, of the face, and of the body, tears and anxiety, buffoonery and desire to hide oneself The convulsions begin mostly in the fingers and in the toes
Spasmodic laughter Convulsive startings, at night, when sleeping Violent convulsions, with great display of strength Paralytic affections
Symptoms which appear periodically, and in groups Great lassitude, and sinking of the whole body Obstinate weakness Consumption
Excessive sensibility of all the organs Fainting fits Outward appearance of the face bluish; bluish-red Affections of the soles of the feet; attacks of sick feeling; blackness of outer parts; cyanosis or morbus caeruleus; bloated skin.
Skin
Eruptions which resemble (dry) itch
Tetters, with yellow scales
Miliary eruptions, esp. on the chest and on the hands
Old ulcers; caries.
Sleep
Profound sleep, with shocks in the body, and starting in the limbs
Lethargic sleep
During sleep constant grumbling in the abdomen.
Fever
Pulse small, weak, and slow
Chilliness over the whole body, mostly in the extremities
Shiverings after attacks of epilepsy
Debilitating, hectic, internal heat
Flushes of heat
Slow fevers
Cold sweat (at night)
Many attacks (epileptic attacks, attacks of mania) end with (cold) perspiration
Violent nocturnal perspiration.