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