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Platinum

Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 23,473 chars · source ↗

All books on Platinum → Antidoted byBromiumCastoreum CanadenseColchicum AutumnalePlatinum MetallicumPulsatilla PratensisThuja Occidentalis
General

Platinum.

Platinum. An Element. (Also called Platina.) Pt. (A. W. 194.3.) Trituration.

Clinical

Amenorrhoea. Chlorosis. Constipation. Convulsions. Delusions. Dentition. Depression of spirits. Dysmenia. Erotomania. Fear. Gout. Haemorrhage. Haemorrhoids. Hysteria. Lead poisoning. Masturbation. Melancholia, Menorrhagia. Menses, suppressed. Mind, affections of. Neuralgia. Neurasthenia. Numbness. Nymphomania. Ovaries, affections of. Pruritus vulvae. Rheumatism. Sexual perversion. Spasms. Tapeworm. Uterus, induration of. Vaginismus. Yawning, spasmodic.

Characteristics

The original name of Platinum was "Platina," being a Spanish word meaning "like silver" (Plata being Spanish for silver). The metal was introduced into Europe from South America in the middle of the eighteenth century. It is always found in association with other metals, chiefly Rhodium, Osmium, Iridium, Palladium. Hahnemann was the first to think of it as a medicine, and his proving in the Chronic Diseases is the basis of our knowledge of its action.

One characteristic symptom, either when found alone or in association with other conditions, has led to many cures with Plat Lost sense of proportion in both ocular and mental vision. Objects look small or the patient thinks them small. This becomes pride and hauteur in the mental sphere; the patient (generally a woman) looks down on everything and everybody.

This is a keynote of Plat. Another is the occurrence of cramps, cramping pains and spasms, developing into convulsions. The cramping pains = numbness and tingling in the parts affected. Pains as if nipped, squeezed in a vice, and these pains increase gradually to an acme and then as gradually decline.

In the rectum this becomes tenesmus; in vagina, vaginismus. Another general keynote is the alternation of mental and physical symptoms: as physical symptoms disappear mental symptoms appear, and vice versâ. Nash cured a case of insanity of some duration with Plat., being led to the remedy by an alternation of the mental symptoms with a pain the whole length of the spine. This alternating feature is also seen between one mental state and another: Changing moods; sad and gay alternately; laughs and cries by turns.

There is also a perverse state: Laughs immoderately, but in the wrong place; laughs at serious things. The mental disorder at times takes a homicidal form. Jahr cured with Plat. a woman who had an inspiration to kill her child, and Jules Gaudy recorded (Jour. Belge d'H., quoted Amer.

H., xxii. 314) the case of a woman who was tormented with an almost irresistible impulse to kill her husband, whom she loved passionately, and with whom she was perfectly happy. The sight of a knife had an irresistible fascination for her, and she was often obliged to leave the table to free herself from the impulse. A few months before, she had lost a child a short time after confinement, which had been followed by profuse and desperately persistent haemorrhage. Recovering from this she became restless, irritable, and her whole existence was ruled by this terrible impulse.

Plat. 6x and 30x relieved and finally cured her. Kent (Med. Adv., xxv. 184) records the case of a middle-aged lady, mother of several grown-up daughters, who complained of a peculiar mental symptom: A fear, in the absence of her husband, that he would never return, that he would die, or be run over. She wept all the time he was away.

Kent discovered that she had been treated for uterine displacement, and was then wearing a pessary. This was removed. Menstrual flow was copious, black, clotted. The external genitals were so sensitive that the usual napkin was intolerable.

Plat. cured the whole case, including the displacement. Almost every symptom in this case was a characteristic. The sensitiveness of the external genitals is often so great as to make coition impossible. Digital examining of such a patient causes great pain.

The action of Plat. to a large extent centres in and radiates from the sexual organs, male and female. It corresponds to masturbation before puberty, and also to the effects of masturbation. It was one of Gallavardin's remedies for the impulse to pederasty and sodomy. Tendency to uncover completely in sleep is a leading note of it.

Excessive desire, especially in virgins. Premature and excessive development of sexual instinct and organs. Nymphomania < in puerperal state. During menses uterine spasms, convulsions.

Convulsions of puerperal state. Catalepsy during menstruation. Spasms alternate between convulsive actions and opisthotonos; full consciousness. Spasms alternate with dyspnoea.

Excessive itching in uterus; pruritus vulvae. Plat. has some characteristic symptoms in relation to the bowels. Its cramping tendency makes it an antidote to lead poisoning; and it has constipation scarcely less marked than that of Pb., though differing from it. The stools of Plat. are tenacious and sticky, adhere to the rectum and anus like putty; or they may be hard as if burnt; the constipation comes on whilst travelling; in emigrants; during pregnancy.

Peculiar Sensations and Symptoms are: As if her senses would vanish. As if parts of malar bones were between screws. As if everything about her were very small. As if she were constantly growing longer and longer.

As if she did not belong to her own family. Vertigo as if torn and pulled with threads. Forehead as if constricted; screwed on; as if a board pressed against it. As if temples too tightly bound.

Scalp as if contracted; as if a heavy weight on it. As if head were enlarged. As if throat constricted; palate elongated; tongue scalded. As if abdomen, chest, nape, limbs, thigh, great toe, tightly wrapped or constricted.

Back and small of back as if broken. Crawling, tingling, numb sensations. Spasmodic yawning. Pains go from right to left.

The right side is somewhat more pronouncedly affected than the left. Severe stitches in right ovary. The symptoms are periodic and paroxysmal, as well as alternating. Plat. is suited to women with dark hair; thin, sanguine, bilious; with too frequent and too profuse menses; sexual organs exceedingly sensitive.

Hysterical and haemorrhoidal patients. The symptoms are: < By touch and pressure. < Fasting. < During menses.

< Rest; sitting; standing; bending backward. > By motion. Walking and going upstairs < pressure in genitals; > hysteric rheumatism.

Walking against wind = sudden arrest of breathing. < Evening and night. Headache commences on waking. < In warm room;

> in open air (but open air = fluent coryza and shaking chill on going from room; heat > cramp pain in legs and irritability and chilliness. Obliged to stretch, which >.

Relations

Antidoted by: Puls., Nit. sp. d. (Teste, who classes Plat. with Thuj., Brom., and Castor, says Colch. is the best antidote to all four). Antidote to: Lead. Complementary: Pallad.

(both affect right ovary, but Pallad. has > from pressure). Compatible: Bell., Ign., Lyc., Puls., Rhus, Sep., Ver. Compare: Pride, Pall. (Plat. egotistical, despises others;

Pall. easily wounded, attaches importance to others), Lyc. (imperious). Spasms and emaciation from antepuberty masturbation, Staph. Uterine affections, nymphomania, Aur., Sep.

(the nymphomania of Plat. is more intense; Plat. is intermediate between Aur. and Sep. in weariness of life; the uterine cramps of Plat. are followed by numbness; those of Sep. are a clutching as if suddenly seized then Suddenly relaxed). Hysteria, indurated ulcers, Tarent. Sees ghosts and demons, Hyo., K. bro.

Shamelessness, uncovers, Pho., Hyo. (Hyo. sees things larger; Plat. smaller). Thinks death near and fears it, Aco., Ars.

Dark, stringy haemorrhage, Cham., Croc. (Croc. has sensation of something alive). Pains come and go gradually, Stan., Arg. n. (Bell. and Lyc., suddenly).

Sensitive to coitus, Sep., Bell. (dry vagina), Fer., Nat. m., Apis (with stinging in ovary), Thuj., Kre. (followed by bloody flow), Murex, Orig. Constipation when travelling (Lyc. when from home;

Bry. when at sea). Weak and exhausted feeling for two hours after stool, Sep. Sticky stools like soft clay, Alm. Hysteria, pressure at root of nose, Ign.

Excessive sexual development, especially in virgins, K. pho. Masturbation in girls, Orig., Gratiol. Dark-haired women, Sep. Laughs immoderately at serious things, Anac., Nat. m., Lyc., Pho.

Causation

Fright. Vexation. Bereavement. Fit of passion. Sexual excess. Masturbation.

Mind

Sadness, esp. in evening, with strong inclination to weep often (every second day) alternating with excessive gaiety and buffoonery

Involuntary inclination to whistle and sing

Involuntary weeping

Loud cries for help

Thinks she stands alone in the world

Anxietas praecordium to an excessive degree, with great fear of death, which is believed to be very near, accompanied by trembling, palpitation of heart, and obstructed respiration

Sensation of dread and horror

Fear, with trembling of hands and feet and confusion of ideas, as if all persons approaching were demons

Hysterical humour, with great mental depression, nervous weakness, and over-excitement of vascular system

Mental symptoms in general: amativeness; state of disposition

Great irritability, with prolonged ill-humour, after a fit of passion

Apathetic indifference and absence of mind

Pride and self-conceit, with contempt for others, even for those who are usually most beloved and respected;

< indoors, > in open air and sunshine

Impulse to kill her own child; her husband;

(on seeing a knife)

Distraction and forgetfulness

Loss of consciousness

Incoherency of speech

Delusion of the senses; feeling as of being too large, and, on the contrary, all other things and persons seem to be too small and too low

Delirium, with fear of men, often changing, with over-estimation of oneself

Mania: with great pride; with fault-finding; with unchaste talk; trembling and clonic spasms, caused by fright or from anger.

Head

Tensive confusion in forehead, as if head were compressed in a vice

Pressing headache from without to within the forehead and temples, gradually increasing and decreasing, < in evening from stooping, while it rest, in the room;

> from exercise and in open air

Transient attacks of vertigo in evening with loss of consciousness

Vertigo on sitting down or ascending stairs

Headache which increases gradually, or by fits, until it becomes; very violent, and which diminishes progressively in same manner

Attack of headache, with nausea and vomiting

Sensation of numbness in head, and externally at vertex, preceded by a sensation of contraction of brain and of scalp;

< in evening and while sitting, > from motion and in open air

Pain in sides of head, as if caused by a plug

Constrictive headache, as if a tape were tightly drawn around it, with sensation of numbness in brain, flushes of heat and ill-humour, < from stooping and exercice

Formication in one temple, extending to lower jaw, with sensation of coldness on that spot;

< in evening and when at rest, > from rubbing

Pressive, cramp-like, compressive pains in the forehead and temples, esp. in root of nose, greatly < by movement and by stooping, sometimes with heat and redness of face, inquietude, and weeping

Tingling in temples, as if caused by insects

Buzzing and noise in head, like that of a mill.

Eyes

Pain in eyes after fatiguing the sight by looking attentively at an object

Tension in sockets, with gnawing pain, as from excoriation in margins

Cramp-like pain in edges of orbits

Compressive tension in eyeballs

Aching in eyes with sleep

Creeping tingling in canthi

Sensation of heat or of coldness and smarting in eyes

Trembling or spasmodic quivering of eyelids

Eyes convulsed

Objects appear smaller than they really are

Confused sight, as if directed through a veil, often with painless twitchings round the eye

Quivering and sparkling before sight.

Ears

Otalgia with cramp-like pain

Shocks in ears.—(Sticking jerking in r. outer ear with) sensation of numbness and of coldness in ears, extending to cheeks and lips

Gnawing tingling in ears

Roaring, whizzing, and ringing in ears

Dull thundering and rumbling in ears.

Nose

Cramp-like pain, with sensation of numbness in nose and at root of nose

Ineffectual want to sneeze and tingling in nose

Dry coryza, often semi-lateral

Corrosive sensation on nose, as of something acrid.

Face

Face pale, wan, and sunken

Burning heat and glowing redness in face, with ardent thirst and dryness of mouth, esp. in evening

Distortion of muscles of face

Sensation of coldness, with tingling and sensation of numbness throughout (r.) side of face

Cramp and tensive pressure in zygomatic processes

Benumbing, dull pressure in malar bone

Pulsative digging in jaws, esp. in evening and during repose, with involuntary weeping

Lockjaw

Gnawing, with pain as from excoriation in lips and chin, which compel scratching

Smarting and lancinating vesicles on lips

Lips dry and cracked

Plexus venarum, of a reddish blue colour, on chin

Sensation of torpor or coldness round mouth and chin

Cramp in jaw.

Teeth

Odontalgia with pulsative and digging pain

Cramp-like drawing, which recurs by fits, in teeth

Numb pain in l. lower teeth

Fissures in gums.

Mouth

Sensation of coldness, esp. in mouth

Crawling sensation on tongue

Burnings pain under tongue

Sensation in tongue as if it had been burnt or scalded.

Throat

Sensation as if throat were raw during (empty) deglutition and at other times

Cramp-like drawing in throat, like a constriction

Sensation as if palate or uvula were elongated

Scraping and accumulation of phlegm in throat

Hawking up of phlegm.

Appetite

Mucous, clammy taste

Sweetish taste on tip of tongue

Adipsia

Loss of appetite after the first mouthful

Complete loss of appetite

Repugnance to food, arising from sadness

Dislike to food

Bulimy

Voracious rapidity in eating, with a disposition to find fault with everything (to detest everything around, himself)

After a meal, risings, pressure on stomach; and colic.

Stomach

Ineffectual effort to eructate

Empty, noisy eructations

Serum of a disagreeable sweetish bitterness ascends throat, and puts patient in danger of choking

Continued nausea, with lassitude, trembling, and anxiety

Aching (pressure) in stomach, esp. after a meal

Sensation of constriction in pit of stomach, extending into abdomen

Fermentations in epigastric region

Flatulent soreness towards hypogastrium

Contractive pain in scrobiculus, as if it were squeezed too tightly

Pressure or shocks, or else throbbings, shootings, and pinchings in scrobiculus

Burning sensation in scrobiculus, sometimes extending from throat into abdomen.

Abdomen

Pains in abdomen, with dull and jerking pressure

Inflation of abdomen, with difficult and interrupted expulsion of flatus

Pressing and bearing down in abdomen extending into pelvis

Lead colic

Constriction in abdomen

Pinchings in umbilical region

Shootings in the side of abdomen and in umbilical region

Gnawing in abdomen

Drawing in groins, commencing from sacrum.

Stool And Anus

Constipation: after lead poisoning or while travelling; sometimes very obstinate

The stool is discharged with difficulty, seeming to stick to anus and rectum like putty

Frequent want, with scanty evacuation, which is voided in pieces, and with great efforts

Evacuations of consistence of pap

Stool hard, as if burnt

Tenia and ascarides are discharged from rectum during evacuation and at other times

After evacuation general shuddering or sensation of weakness in abdomen

Frequent itching, tingling, and tenesmus in anus, esp. in the evening (before sleep)

Violent and dull lancinations in rectum.

Urinary Organs

Red urine with a white cloud, or else which becomes turbid, and deposits a red sediment.—Slow but frequent emission of urine.

Male Sexual Organs

Burning pain and gnawing in scrotum

Unnatural increase of sexual desire, with frequent erections, esp. at night (with amorous dreams)

Voluptuous crawling in genital organs and abdomen, with anxious oppression and palpitation, then painless pressure downwards in genitals with sticking in sinciput and exhaustion

Flow of prostatic fluid

Coition of too short duration, with but little enjoyment.

Female Sexual Organs

Sensation of bearing down towards genital organs, with aching in abdomen

Unnatural increase of sexual desire, with painful sensibility and voluptuous tingling from genitals up into abdomen

Nymphomania, which may occur even during the lying-in period

Induration of uterus

Sanguineous congestion in uterus

Miscarriage

Metrorrhagia (with great excitability of the sexual system) of thick, deep-coloured blood, with drawings in groins

Catamenia too early and too profuse (blood dark and coagulated), sometimes with headache, restlessness, and tears

Menstruation, when the discharge is very abundant, thick and black like tar, and is very exhausting; spasms and screaming at every menstrual period

Catamenia too long continued

Before catamenia, cuttings and pains like those of labour in hypogastrium

Cramps at commencement of catamenia

Painful sensitiveness and constant pressure in mons veneris and genital organs, with internal chill and external coldness, except face

Severe stitches in r. ovarian region

During catamenia, pressure as of a general bearing down towards genital organs, which are very sensitive

Leucorrhoea, like white of eggs, flowing chiefly after urinating, and on rising from a seat.

Respiratory Organs

Aphonia

Short, nervous, dry cough, with palpitation and dyspnoea

Short, difficult, and anxious respiration.

Chest

Shortness of breath, with constrictive oppression of chest

Inclination to draw a long breath, prevented by a sensation of weakness in chest

Anxious oppression of chest, with sensation of heat, which ascends from epigastrium

Pain in chest, as if a weight were pressing upon it, with want to take a full inspiration, which is hindered by a sensation of weakness

Tension, pressure, and shootings in sides of chest, which do not permit lying down on either side

Aching and dull blows in chest

Spasmodic pressure in one side of chest

Spasmodic pain in chest, commencing slightly, increasing to a certain intensity, and gradually diminishing in same way

Dull lancinations in sides of chest, during an inspiration.

Heart

Burning and sticking low down by heart

A dull pressure in region of apex of heart

Anxious palpitation of heart.

Neck And Back

Rigidity of nape of neck

Weakness and sensation of tensive numbness in nape of neck (the head sinks forward)

Contusive pain in loins and in back, esp. when pressing upon them, or else when bending backwards

Pains in back and small of back as if broken, after a walk < bending backwards

Spasmodic pain in loins

Sensation of numbness in coccyx, as after a blow.

Limbs

Cramp-like jerking and drawing pains in limbs and joints

Tension in limbs (esp. thighs) as if bound too tightly with ligatures

Attack of spasmodic rigidity in limbs, without loss of consciousness, but with clenching of jaws, loss of speech, eyes convulsed, and involuntary movements of the commissures of lips and eyelids

Tingling restlessness, sensation of weakness and trembling in limbs, esp. during repose and in open air.

Upper Limbs

Heaviness and lassitude of arms, with paralytic pulling

Paralysed sensation in l. arm; in both arms

Aching and spasmodic pain in forearms, hands, and fingers, esp. when grasping anything firmly

Itching, gnawing, pricking, and burning sensation in arms, hands, and fingers

Sensation of stiffness in forearms

Painful throbbing in fingers

Distortion of fingers

Numbness of fingers

Trembling of r. thumb, with numbness

Numbness of little finger

Ulcers on fingers.

Lower Limbs

Spasmodic pain and tension in thighs, feet, and toes

Weakness of thighs and knees, as if they were broken

Pain as from a blow in l. knee

Shocks and blows in legs

Lassitude of legs

Restlessness and trembling in legs, with a sensation of numbness and rigidity

Lassitude and numbness in feet when seated

Coldness of feet

Gnawing, excoriation, and smarting in ankle-bones, greatly < by least touch

Painful throbbing in toes

Swelling on ball of toe, with tearing and nocturnal pulsations

Ulcers on toes

Pain in great toe as if too tightly enveloped.

Generalities

Dark-haired females Face changing colour frequently Rising in throat Tapeworm, other symptoms agreeing

Contraction of inner parts Catalepsy; epilepsy with rigor; tonic spasms Very great paleness of skin Spasmodic yawning

Pains like labour pains Sensation as of a hoop around parts Violent shocks as if from pain Sensation of prickling in the outer parts

Sensation of coldness in outer parts Compressive, cramp-like, constrictive, or pressive pains, as if caused by a plug, or by dull blows Cramp-like, jerking, and drawing pains in limbs and joints Tension in limbs, as if bound too tightly with ligatures

Pains, as from a contusion, a blow, or a bruise, esp. when pressing on part affected Pains, slight at commencement, increase gradually, often at regular intervals, and diminish in same manner Sensation of torpor and paralytic rigidity in various parts, often with trembling and palpitation of heart Attack of spasmodic rigidity in limbs, without loss of consciousness, but with clenching of jaws, loss of speech, eyes convulsed, and involuntary movements of commissures of lips and eyelids

The spasmodic attacks manifest themselves chiefly at daybreak Affections caused by fright, by vexation, or by a fit of passion Moral and physical affections, appearing alternately Excessive weakness (paralytic weakness in limbs)

Dull, pushing, or inward pressing pains, as from dull blows Tingling restlessness, sensation of weakness and trembling in limbs, esp. during repose and in open air Majority of symptoms < by repose, in the evening; from anger; more in females than males; after lying down and rising again; when sitting; after rising; and > by movement The affections which are > in open air are generally < towards evening and in a room.

Skin

Tingling gnawing, with pain as of excoriation, and itching or burning, pricking, and shooting pain on various parts of skin, which provokes scratching.—Ulcers (on fingers and toes).

Sleep

Convulsive and spasmodic yawning, esp. in afternoon

Great disposition to sleep in evening

Prolonged sleep in morning

Anxious dreams of wars and bloodshed

Lascivious dreams

Waking at night, esp. after midnight (with frightful dreams, want of consciousness), or with anxious, sad, and distressing thoughts

Bewilderment at night on waking

At night patient lies on back, with arms above head, legs drawn up, with strong inclination to uncover them.

Fever

Pulse small, feeble, frequently tremulous

Constant shivering and shuddering over whole body, esp. in open air

Shaking chill when going from the room into the open, even warm air

Chilliness predominates, with low spirits, which ceases during heat

Heat with sensation of burning in face, without any visible change in colour of face (she thought she was very red, but colour the same as usual)

Flushes of heat, interrupted by chilliness

Gradually increasing, and in the same manner gradually decreasing heat

Perspiration only during sleep, ceasing as soon as one wakens.