Homeopathic Materia Medica

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

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 one's 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.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

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 versa. 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.

SYMPTOMS.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Respiratory Organs.─Aphonia.─Short, nervous, dry cough, with palpitation and dyspnoea.─Short, difficult, and anxious respiration.

18. 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.

19. Heart.─Burning and sticking low down by heart.─A dull pressure in region of apex of heart.─Anxious palpitation of heart.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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).

26. 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.

27. 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.

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica (Allen's Keynotes), Henry Clay Allen

Platina (The Metal)

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 bear the napkin to touch her; will go into spasms from an examination; vulva painfully sensitve 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.). For 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 usully 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 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; pruritis vulvae. Constipation; while traveling (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 grumous mass (Croc.).

Relations. - Compare: Aur., Croc., Ign., Kali p., Puls., Sep., Stan.; Val. the vegetable analogue.

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics, Eugene Beauharnais Nash

Pride and over-estimation of one's self; looking down on others; things look small to her.

Genitals exceedingly sensitive, but excessive sexual desire; nymphomania, with ovarian. troubles; prolapsus or profuse menses.

Pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease (Stann.); sometimes attended with numbness (Cham.).

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This remedy may be studied in three relations: in its relation to the mental, nervous and sexual systems. It has curious mental symptoms. Here are three of them: "Pride and over-estimation of one's self; looking down with haughtiness on others." "Illusion of fancy, on entering the house after walking an hour, as if everything about her were very small, and all persons mentally and physically inferior, but she herself physically and mentally superior." "Changing moods, gay and sad alternately." This last symptom is like Ignatia, Crocus, Nux moschata and Aconite, and Platina has another symptom like Aconite – "fear of death." Now the first two symptoms above mentioned might appear to some as of no practical value in the treatment of the sick. There is no pathological explanation for them beyond the fact of a generally disordered mind, which might take any other form of hallucination. But this is a valuable indication and found under no other remedy. I was led by it to prescribe the remedy in a very obstinate case of insanity which had resisted the skill of several allopathic physicians of note, and they had finally decided that the case must be sent to the insane asylum. The parents however, who were quite wealthy, could not consent to that, and were induced to try Homoeopathy. I gave her Platina on the strength of this mental indication, which was very prominent, coupled with another prominent symptom, which also appears under this remedy, viz, "physical symptoms disappear and mental symptoms appear" and vice versa. The physical symptoms was a pain the whole length of the spine. This was the symptom alternating with the mental one. It was one of the most brilliant cures I ever saw. Improvement began the first day and never flagged, and she remained well now 15 years with never a sign of return.

The nervous symptoms outside the brain symptoms calling for Platina are: 1st "The pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease". 2nd. "This pains are attended with numbness of the parts" This first symptom you will remember is like Stannum but the Platinum patient is not characteristically so weak as the Stannum one. The second one is like Chamomilla, but the Platina patient is not so unvaryingly ugly as the Chamomilla one. Both are great mental remedies, however, and if any question arises (as there may) a close study of them in their entirety may be necessary.

In regard to the gradual outset of the pains of Platina and Stannum, Belladonna has exactly the opposite: but Belladonna more resembles the Platina in its brain symptoms.

Sexual organs. "Nymphomania aggravated in the lying-in; tingling or tittilation up into the abdomen." "Excessive sexual desire, especially in virgins; premature or excessive development of sexual instinct." "Genitals excessively sensitive; cannot bear to be touched; will almost go into a spasm from an examination, and almost faint during intercourse." "Metrorrhagia or profuse menses; blood black and clotted."

Ovarian trouble and prolapsus with the profuse menses and excessive sensitiveness of the genitals to touch or coition. All these are very strong indications for this remedy. All these symptoms, mental, nervous, spasmodic, sexual, etc., would indicate that Platina ought to be a good remedy for that protean malady, hysteria, and so abundant experience has proven it to be. Here again I have, as in the case of Zincum and Stannum, found the higher preparation of the drug most potent for good, though in, a case of insanity I used the 6th, not having it high at that time.

Platina has a form of constipation similar to Alumina, i. e., the stools adhere to the anus like soft clay.