Platinum metallicum

A remedy of pains. For prim old maids. Oversensitive mind and nerves. Violent cramping, squeezing, thrusting or numbing pains, and then spasms. Neuralgia. Many and various ovarian or uterine reflexes. Irregular spasm, congestion of blood or coldness of single parts, eyes, ears, etc. Tremor. Alternate mental and physical or sexual symptoms. Numbness; scalp, face, coccyx, calves, etc. Bandaged feeling. Sticky; tears, stool, menses, etc. .................... Laughs at wrong time. Unkind, abrupt and quarrelsome. Disordered sense of proportion; objects seem smaller, strange, frightful, etc. Hysteria. Horrors; fears death. CONTEMPT. Hauteur. Proud and erotic (Aur.). Alone, deserted feeling. Mentally < in twilight. Bad humor, yet weeps. Gradually increasing, then slowly lessening headache. Clavus. Tense scalp. Cramp at root of nose. Grimaces. Boring in jaws. Congestion to abdomen. Colic. Hard, black, scant or soft, difficult stools; of tourists; of pregnancy. Crawling itching anus in evening. Painfully sensitive genitals, with itching, tickling or crawling. Dark, thick, profuse menses, with dragging. Heat in ovaries. Ovarian irritation. Vaginismus. Dysmenorrhœa, with shrieks and jerks. Eroticism. Onanism. Spasmodic yawning. Bruised backache, < pressure or bending backward. Knees drawn up and spread apart. Cramp in calves. In sleep wants to uncover entirely.

EMOTIONS: Sexual. Coition. Chagrin. TOUCH. Nerve exhaustion.

Walking in cool air. Sunshine.

FEMALE ORGANS. Nerves: Vagus. Sensory. Trifacial.

Related: Cup. Ign. Plb. Stan.

Platina metallicum

Adapted to women, dark hair, rigid fibre; thin, of a sanguine temperament; who suffer from too early and too profuse menses.

Sexual organs exceedingly sensitive; cannot hear the napkin to touch her; will go into spasms from an examination; vulva painfully sensitive during coitus; will faint during, or cannot endure, coitus (compare, Mur., Orig.).

The pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease (Stan.) ; are attended with numbness of parts ( Cham. ) .

F or hysterical patients ; alternately gay and sad, who cry easily (Croc., Ign., Puls.) ; pale, easily fatigued.

Arrogant, proud, contemptuous, and haughty; pitiful “looking down” upon people usually venerated ; a kind of “casting them off” unwillingly.

Mental delusions, as if everything about her were small ; all persons physically and mentally inferior, but she physically large and superior.

Sensation of growing larger in every direction.

Trifling things produce profound vexation (Ign., Staph. ) ; remains a long time in the sulks.

Satiety of life, with taciturnity and fear of death (Acon., Ars.).

Mental disturbances after fright, grief, vexation; onanism, pride.

Mental symptoms appear as physical symptoms disappear and vice versa.

Headache : numb, heavy pain in brain or on vertex ; from anger or chagrin; hysterical, from uterine disease; pains gradually increase and decrease.

Nymphomania: < in lying-in women; excessive sexual development, especially in virgins (Kali p.) ; vaginismus, spasms and constriction.

Menses too early, too profuse, too long-lasting; dark-clotted, offensive, with bearing down spasms; pains in uterus with twitching; genitals sensitive.

Excessive itching in uterus; pruritus vulvse.

Constipation: while travelling (at sea, Bry.); after lead poisoning : from inertia of bowels ; frequent, unsuccessful urging; stools adhere to rectum and anus like soft clay (Alum.); of emigrants; of pregnancy; obstinate cases after Nux has failed.

Metrorrhagia : flow in black clots and fluid ; thick, black, tarry or in a grumous mass (Croc.).

Puls., Sep., Stan.; Val. the vegetable analogue.

Lecture LIX — Platina, Palladium and Alumina

Platina.

Platina.

Mental symptoms.—Bell., Pallad., Phos., Lye.

Nervous system.—Bell., Helon., Stan., Plumb.

f Pallad., Arg. met., Helonias, Sexual organs pu p Aurum _ The action of Platina is to be studied under three headings, namely: the mental symptoms, its action on the nervous system in general, and its effects on the sexual organs of both the male and the female. The Platina patient is rather haughty and proud, egotistical. She seems to look down upon everybody and everything as beneath her. There is often accompanying this mental condition a peculiarity of vision; objects look smaller to her than natural. Platina also produces an excitation of the mind and of the whole nervous system. Things seem horrible to her. In her imagination she sees ghosts, demons, etc. Here it resembles Kali bromatum and Hyoscyamus, both of which have this symptom. Everything seems strange to the patient. When she enters her own home objects appear strange to her; she does not know where she is. At other times the patient is decidedly melancholy. She thinks that death is near at hand and she fears it, very much as we found under Arsenic and Aconite. Aconite predicts the hour or time of death, but otherwise the two drugs differ immeasurably. She may have a decidedly hysterical mood, with alternation of attacks of laughing and crying, especially when these are respectively inappropriate. Now these mental symptoms seem to depend upon excitement in the sexual sphere. The genitals, particularly those of the female, are acutely sensitive. There is constant titillation or tingling in the sexual organs, internally and externally. This excites the unfortunate victim to such a degree as to produce that horrible disease known as nymphomania. The patient seems to have the strength of a giant. She wishes to embrace everybody. These nymphomaniac symptoms are accompanied by prolapsus with induration of the uterus, just like Aurum. The ovaries are very sensitive, and are the seat of burning pains. Platina has even succeeded in curing ovaritis when pus has formed, and Hepar and Lachesis have been insufficient to effect its evacuation. The menses are too early and too profuse, and consist of dark, stringy, clotted blood. They are accompanied by spasms, or by painful bearing-down in the uterine region. Now these spasms of Platina are quite frequently met with in hysterical subjects. They consist of a sort of tetanic rigidity with trismus, and this alternates with dyspnoea.

When, as will sometimes happen, nymphomania occurs as the result of worms escaping into the vagina and there exciting irritation, Caladium is the remedy.

This menstrual flow of Platina brings to mind two or three other remedies, which are here deserving of mention. Crocus has a dark or black clotted flow, with or without miscarriage, and associated with a sensation as if there were something moving around in the abdomen. Chamomilla has profuse, dark, clotted menstrual flow, but its mental symptoms are different from those of Platinum.

Millefolium and Sabina have bright-red, partly-clotted blood. Belladonna, like Platina, has a sensation in the forehead as if all would come out; face burning red; bearing down in uterus, etc.; but in Belladoyina the pains come and go suddenly, and the flow is bright; or, if dark, it is offensive in odor.

Lycopodium is the nearest analogue in the egotistic state of mind. The Platina patient often suffers from neuralgia in various parts of the body. These neuralgias are very easily studied on account of their well-marked characteristic symptoms. The pains are of a cramping character, and cause numbness and tingling in the parts affected. You find them frequently in the head. There will be pain at the root of the nose, as though the part were squeezed in a vise, and this is followed by tingling and numbness, which will indicate to you that it is in the course of the nerves that this symptom lies. The pains increase gradually, and decrease just as gradually as they came, as you will find under Stannum.

Now, in these neuralgic symptoms, the nearest remedy we have to Platina is Belladoyina. In both remedies there is decided congestion of the head, with bright red face and delirium, but the gradually increasing, and just as gradually decreasing, pains distinguish Platina from Belladonna.

Capsicum is suited to patients of lax fibre who suffer from burning pungent pain in the face, worse from the slightest draught of air, whether warm or cold.

Verbascum is indicated in prosopalgia when there is a numbing, crushing as with tongs in the painful parts, worse from talking, sneezing, change of temperature, at times associated with numbness, and daily from 9 A. m. to 4 p. m.

Gnaphalium has neuralgia alternating with numbness, especially in the lower limbs.

Arsenicum has prosopalgia, with darting, needle-like, burning pains. I have yet a few words to say about the action of Platina on the male system generally. We find it indicated for the ill-effects of prepubic masturbation. It is called for by the melancholy and the sheepish look that the children have. Also when, as a result of this unnatural vice, spasms of an epileptiform character appear. The youth has hollow eyes and yellow skin. During the attack the face is pale and sunken; in fact, it may be so at all times. Consciousness is not often lost. The limbs are usually drawn up and thus spread apart. It may also be used for spasms during labor. Teething children may require Platina when they are anaemic and pale; the jaws are locked, and after the spell the child lies on its back with flexed legs and knees widely separated. The spasms, both in adults and children, alternate between convulsive actions and opisthotonos. Platina may also be used in hysterical spasms or spasms caused by nervous excitement, when they are preceded or followed by constriction of the oesophagus and respiratory embarrassment, a sort of asthma in other words; sudden arrest of breathing when walking against the wind. In this last symptom it is similar to Calcarea ostrearum and Arsenicum. Moschus is similar to it in hysteria. In its abdominal symptoms, Platina very much resembles Plumbum, and it has been used very successfully for the cure of the well-known colic produced by the latter remedy. Like Plumbum, Platina produces a constipation from inertia of the bowels. It is attended with frequent unsuccessful urging to stool. The stools when passed seem to be like putty or glue, and adhere tenaciously to the anus. It has been highly recommended for the constipation of emigrants.

The Chloride of Platinum has only one symptom that I care to mention, and that is caries of the tarsus. You may use it in syphilitic cases, or after the abuse of mercury.

Platina has some further action on the female genital organs, as I have already intimated. It is useful in cases of indurated and prolapsed uterus, associated with continual pressure in the groins and back; parts are painfully sensitive to touch. The patient exhibits sensitiveness, even vaginismus, during coitus.

In indurated uterus compare Sepia, Aurum (which has more suicidal mania), Argentum nitricam and Helonias.

For sensitiveness to coitus compare Sepia, Belladonna (from dry vagina), Kreosote (when followed by bloody flow), Ferrum, Natrum mur., Apis (when associated with stinging in ovaries), Thzija, etc.

Irresistible impulse to kill. Self-exaltation; contempt for others. Arrogant, proud. Weary of everything. Everything seems changed. Mental trouble pressed menses. Physical symptoms disappear as mental symptoms develop.

Is pre-eminently a woman's remedy. Strong tendency to paralysis, anæsthesia, localized numbness and coldness are shown. Hysterical spasms; pains increase and decrease gradually (Stannum). Tremulousness.

Worse, sitting and standing; evening. Better, walking.

Tense, pressing pain, confined to a small spot. Cramplike, squeezing pain. Constriction about forehead and right temples. Numbness, with headache.

Prosopalgia, with numb feeling in malar bones, as if the parts were

between screws. Pain at root of nose, as if squeezed in a vise. Coldness, creeping, and numbness, in whole right side of face. Pains increase and decrease gradually (Stann).

Objects look smaller than they are. Twitching of lids (Agar). Eyes feel cold. Cramp-like pain in orbits.

Feels numb. Cramp-like twinges. Roaring and rumbling.

Fermentation, much flatulence; constriction; ravenous hunger; persistent nausea, with anxiety and weakness.

Painter's colic. Pain in umbilical region; extending through to back. Pressing and bearing down in abdomen; extending into pelvis.

Retarded; feces scanty; evacuated with difficulty. Adheres to rectum, like soft clay. Sticky stool. Constipation of travelers, who are constantly changing food and water. Stool as if burnt.

Parts hypersensitive. Tingling internally and externally (Kali brom; Orig). Ovaries sensitive and burn. Menses too early, too profuse, dark-clotted, with spasms and painful bearing-down, chilliness, and sensitiveness of parts. Vaginismus. Nymphomania. Excessive sexual development; vaginismus. Pruritus vulvæ. Ovaritis with sterility. Abnormal sexual appetite and melancholia.

Tightness of thighs, as if too tightly wrapped. Numb and weary sensation. Feel paralyzed.

Sleeps with legs far apart (Chamom).

Compare: Rhodium; Stann; Valer; Sep. Compare, also: Platinum muriaticum (this remedy has achieved beneficial results after Iodide of Potash failed to cure in syphilitic affection; violent occipital headaches, dysphagia, and syphilitic throat and bone affections; caries of bones of feet); Plat mur nat (polyuria and salivation); Sedum acre (sexual irritability, relieves irritation of nerve centers and gives rest). Antidote: Puls. Platina antidotes the bad effects of lead.

Sixth trituration to thirtieth potency.

Platinum

The Platinum proving represents the woman's mind perverted.

It is especially suited to hysterical women such as have undergone fright, prolonged excitement, or from disappointment, shock, or prolonged hemorrhages. She becomes arrogant and haughty.

Mind: One of the most striking characteristics of this drug is pride and over-estimate of oneís self. She imagines that she is of a high born family and that her friends and relatives are of lowly origin and looks down upon them.

Her acquaintances are inferior to herself. A strange thing about this remedy is that this imagination extends to the body. She imagines that her body is large and that the bodies of other people are smaller in comparison with her own. She is in a contemptuous mood, anxious and serious over matters that. are not serious, irritable about trifling things, is moody and sulky over slight vexations, anxious, weeping. Palpitation, trembling in all limbs during every little excitement, fears death and loathes life. Fear is a very prominent feature in this remedy. Fears that something will happen, fears that her absent husband will never return to her, though he comes back regularly. Restless disposition, excitable, walking, moving about, and weeping. The mental symptoms alternate with the physical symptoms. Strange illusions of fancy. Imagines than she do, not belong to this race and becomes insane over religious matters, sits in the corner and broods and says nothing. Takes on insanity; becomes a sexual pervert, utters unchaste speech and trembles.

Spasms will come on from vexation or anger. Whistles, sings, and dances. Talks constantly about fanciful things. She may go into melancholy or into mania. Any disturbance of her pride will bring on her symptoms.

Sexual excitement will bring on her symptoms. The usual mental symptoms are intermingled with trembling of the limbs, sexual excitement, and numbness of various parts of the body and limbs. Compressing sensations, pressing pains, pressure of the limbs as if bandaged or constricted, tension of the skin of the limbs as if bandaged.

Head: These characteristic features prevail throughout the various regions of the body and modify many particulars.

Sensation of numbness of the scalp with, pressing pain in the head, boring, compression of the head. Tension of the scalp, cramplike constrictions of the scalp gradually increasing to violence, cramplike pains gradually increasing to violence.

Squeezing sensation in the head. These pains may be in the temple, in the top of the head, or in the forehead. Again, there is crawling, creeping, numbness of the scalp. Sudden shocks in the head. There is no symptom in the head more persistent than numbness of the scalp, it prevails throughout all sensations and pains. All headaches gradually increase until they are severe. Violent neuralgia in the head with sensitiveness in hysterical persons. Sometimes numbness in the head is described as if the brain were numb. Headaches come on from chagrin, from fear, from vexation, from hemorrhages, and from sexual excitement.

Eyes: Sparks before the eyes, spasms of the lids, and objects appear smaller than they really are. Sensation of coldness in the eyes, spasms, spasmodic trembling and twitching of the muscles of the eyes.

Ears: Cramping pain in the ears, coldness in the ears, numbness of the external ears.

The numbness of the ears extends to the face, nose and scalp. Platinum is a hemorrhagic remedy. Bleeding from various parts of the body and mucous membranes. The hemorrhages wherever observed are black clots with fluid. On examining the symptoms of the nose hemorrhage is observed. Black, coagulated blood from the nose. Oversensitive to smell. Violent crampy pains at the root of the nose with redness of the face.

Face: Sensation of coldness of the face, numbness of the face, cramping, pressing pains in the face. Neuralgia of the face. Coldness, crawling, numbness of the face. Numbness of the malar bone. Tearing boring pain in the face. Pulsating and digging through the lower jaw, especially the right side, together with numbness and coldness. The pains come gradually and go gradually. Sensation as if the tongue were scalded, crawling in the tongue.

Stomach and abdomen: Loss of appetite on account of the depressed mood or at other times a ravenous appetite; hasty eating, eats everything around her.

Much flatulence, fermentation in the stomach. Jerking of the muscles of the stomach and abdomen. Sensation as if the whole abdomen were tightly constricted or bandaged. Tension of the skin of the abdomen. Violent, cramping pains in the abdomen, drawing pains in the navel as if by a string, which causes a sensation of retraction of the abdomen. Pressing, bearing down pains in the abdomen.

These pains are much like Plumbum and Platinum, has been used as an antidote to Plumbum. Pressing, drawing pains from incarcerated flatus. The torpor of the intestinal canal is much like that which is found in Plumbum. Inveterate constipation, much flatus. The stool is half digested and papescent or hard as if burnt, or may be scanty and very difficult, or may be glutinous and adherent to the anus like soft clay. Frequent urging to stool and inability to strain at stool, inveterate constipation and unsuccessful urging to stool.

Pain in the abdomen after lead poisoning and colic after lead poisoning. Constipation in travelers. Prolonged efforts to pass a stool. Aching pains, burning pains and protrusion of hemorrhoids during stool. Burning in the rectum during stool. Itching, tickling, and tenesmus of the anus, especially in the evening.

Genitalia: Extreme sexual erethism is found in both male and female.

In the male there is great sexual erethism driving to secret vice. It has cured epilepsy arising from onanism. Sexual erethism is one of the most prominent features of Platinum, in women. Unbearable sexual excitement and voluptuous crawling in the genitals.

Such extreme sensitiveness of the external genitals that it is impossible for the woman to wear a napkin during menstruation. Such extreme sensitiveness of the vagina that it is impossible for the physician to make an examination with the index finger. It is not an inflammation but a hyperesthesia.

Increased sexual excitement in young girls, in hysterical girls. Violent sexual desire in married women with itching, tingling, and voluptuous sensations. Pain in the ovarian region, especially the left. It has cured sterility of long standing, especially sterility that is supposed to come from excessive sexual excitement, Burning, stitching pains in the ovaries.

Inflammation of the ovaries coming with hemorrhage of the uterus, and during the menstrual period. It has cured ovarian tumors and cystic tumors. Inflammation of the uterus, bearing down, as in prolapsus. Prolapsed uterus and dragging in the pelvis.

Polypus of the uterus and uterine hemorrhages. Copious menstrual flow. The flow is dark, even black, and clotted with much fluid blood. These nervous women constantly feel as if the menstrual flow was going to appear.

The menstrual flow comes too early, is too profuse, and then generally of short duration. The hemorrhage is somewhat like the menstrual flow in old women. The menstrual periods sometimes return every fourteen days or the menstrual flow may be entirely absent. The vulva and vagina are extremely sensitive during coition, sometimes preventing the act. The woman suffers from albuminous leucorrhoea, mostly in the daytime without much sensation. There are many complaints of pregnancy, threatened abortion, exhausting hemorrhages, discharges of black clotted blood.

During labor the contractions are interrupted by sensitiveness of the vagina and internal parts. It is impossible for the obstetrician to make the usual examination. Cramping in the limbs during parturition or profuse hemorrhage; hysterical convulsions, puerperal convulsions.

After every mental exertion palpitation, trembling, numbness, quivering, and excitement in the limbs. Tremulous restlessness in the legs with numbness. Cold feet. Pains in the great toe as if bandaged. This sensation prevails throughout.

The limbs feel as if bandaged about the thigh or leg. The nerves are in a great state of excitement most of the time. The patient is prostrated. Paralytic weakness, which is worse during rest. Numbness, stiffness and coldness. Painful tremulousness all over the body, with throbbing in the blood vessels. Numbness of the scalp, of the feet, of the bands, of the limbs. Shifting, neuralgic pains. Spasmodic affections of hysterical women. Spasms from sexual erethism. Coldness, crawling, and numbness of the skin, especially during fever.