Cuprum


Hahnemann’s second anti-spasmodic cholera remedy is Cuprum. Here Leopold Salzer In his book Cholera and it’s Homeopathic treatment, gave the full detail of symptoms and constitution type of Cholera….


We have now arrived, after a long and laborious journey, at the discussion of Hahnemann’s second anti-spasmodic cholera remedy-at the discussion of Cuprum.

In as much as this metal sets up in the alimentary canal irritation with colic and tympanites, followed by irritation of the nervous system at large, it resembles Arsenic, a drug of which I have spoken at length in my previous lecture. The difference between the two with regard to their toxicological action, is however pretty well marked. In Cuprum poisoning-be it the metal, the acetate or the sulphate- inflammation of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal is by far not specific, nor it is ever so severe, as is the case in Arsenic-poisoning. This is a negative quality of Cuprum which renders this drug so much the more homoeopathic to cholera than Arsenic. You are aware that the pathological state of the intestinal mucous membrane in the disease under discussion is all but inflammatory. The specific action of cholera in this respect is quite the reverse of Arsenical poisoning. Arsenic is so far deficient in similarity to cholera. With regard to the abnormal alvine discharges occurring under the action of Cuprum, they are, as a rule, not choleraic in their nature and consistence; although there are exceptions, as I shall show hereafter.

Pursuing our comparison between the drugs just mentioned farther still, with the intention of establishing the degree of their respective similarity to cholera-we further find, that Cuprum has all advantages on its side with regard to its capacity of producing spasms of the voluntary muscles; even in the region of the alimentary canal, it is its spasmodic action which distinguishes its pathogenesis. The colic produced by Cuprum partakes by far more of the nervous character, than that produced by Arsenic; so that, on the whole, it would appear, that Cuprum is more fit to cope with the spasmodic part of cholera, than Arsenic.

A close study of the physiological action of acute Cuprum poisoning shows, however, that the general spasms occurring under its action are subsequent to the irritation set up in the alimentary canal. Arsenic, which is versatile in its toxic action, may exert a direct influence upon the medulla oblongata and thereby reach the motor nervous system; while under the influence of acute Cuprum poisoning there ensues no direct action on the medulla oblongata, not even of a contingent order; as a rule it affects primarily the alimentary canal; all spasmodic disorders arising under its toxic influence being secondary to the primary action. In fact Hahnemann recommended Cuprum for the second stage of cholera, when vomiting and purging have already set in. For the first, he preferred Camphor; and from what we know about this drug’s action, namely, that it produces idiopathic convulsions by acting directly upon the medulla oblongata, we find Hahnemann’s recommendation fully supported both by theory and practical experience.

Cuprum, it would than appear, is more homoeopathic to choleraic spasms than to spasmodic cholera; and has indeed as such maintained its great reputation in our school, from the time it was first introduced, up to date

We have seen now Camphor primarily acts on the medulla oblongata, and thence extends its action through the pneumogastric nerves to the solar plexus. Cuprum seems to act exactly in the opposite direction. It takes its start from the hypogastric and solar plexus (fixed pain, or soreness on pressure in the epigastric region is characteristic of the drug) and reaches the medulla oblongata and the cerebral motor centres either through the pneumogastric nerves or by means of some other connecting channels, known as it is that the sympathetic and cerebrospinal systems interpenetrate, so to say, one another, each system transmitting its fibres into the trunks of other. Bearing this in mind, we shall not wonder, why we often fail with Cuprum in epileptiform spasms, which originate in the medulla oblongata.

There is yet another important fact to be mentioned with regard to the relation between spasmodic cholera and Cuprum. I have already previously stated that the principal danger of the cholera spasms comes, not from the side of the muscular cramps of the extremities, but from the spasmodic contraction of the arterioles, as manifested by a cold all over the body with more or less lividity of the cutaneous surface. Now there are again symptoms that are, as a rule, met with in Cuprum poisoning, merely as concomitants to the gastric disorders which represent the primary toxic action of copper on the human system. We have seen how low the temperature may be made to fall primarily in the case of Arsenic poisoning. In poisoning by Hydrocyanic Acid, we have hardly any records in this respect, owing to the rapidity with which the poison ends life. However, the state of the blood is sufficient evidence that oxydation has been made impossible under the poison’s influence. As to Camphor, the old records could hardly be expected to notice temperature. I give you here a modern case of poisoning, as reported by Taylor in his `Medical Jurisprudence, 1883′, where you will see that under the influence of this drug there is a considerable fall of temperature: In 1882 a man was admitted into Guy’s hospital after having swallowed about 5 fluid ounces of soap liniment. This quantity would contain 150 grains of Camphor. His skin was cold and clammy, the pupils were dilated and did not respond to light; he was quite unconscious, and the conjunctivae of the eyes were insensible to touch; the jaws were tightly set, the limbs were relaxed, but became rigid when handled. Pulse 120. The respiration very stertorous, and 20 per minute. An emetic had been successfully administered to the patient before his admission. The stomach pump was then applied with difficulty in consequence of the rigidity of the jaw; and only a small quantity of mucus and a few scraps of food were recognised in the fluid removed. The temperature was 2 degree F. below the normal. A subsequent attempt to administer castor oil failed, as he was unable to swallow. Five hours after his admission consciousness returned. He vomited, had very little muscular power and fell, on attempting to leave his bed. Ten hours after admission the skin was hot and dry, the pupils were still dilated, pulse 108, respiration very rapid (38) and though conscious, he was drowsy. The tongue was dry, brown and tremulous, muscular rigidity had disappeared. He now made a rapid recovery. The temperature, as you have seen, was 2 degrees below normal standard. But Cuprum poisoning is, as far as I know, by no means marked by any direct fall of the normal temperature. Coldness manifests itself first in the extremities, in those very extremities which are affected by spasms and spreads only over the whole body, after the respiratory organs have become implicated by the spasms. This reminds one of the experiments of Hitzig, Eulenberg and Landois mentioned in the second of these lectures, according to which electrical stimulation of regions near the motor centres lowered the temperature of the limbs. Or of some analogous experiments of M. Bochefontaine, according to which, strong stimulation of the motor centres of the extremities causes increase of the blood pressure in the arteries, and retardation of the beats of the heart.

The following case is a fair specimen of acute Cuprum poisoning, as given in Hempel’s Materia Medica:- A lady, her daughter and a servant girl partook of chicken fricassee which had been cooked in a badly tinned copper saucepan. In the evening and during the night, these three persons, and more particularly, the delicately formed daughter, were attacked with ineffectual efforts to vomit, contraction and dryness in the inner mouth, thirst, violent pains in the epigastrium, colic, followed by several watery, whitish stools. These symptoms continued on the following morning; the daughter was, moreover, attacked with uninterrupted anguish, convulsions, painful and hard swelling of the abdominal walls and frequent fainting. The mother had eructations which tasted of copper and violent colic with tenesmus followed by liquid greenish stools. The next day, the patients were found by the physician with the following symptoms: The mother complained of heat and dryness in the mouth and intestines; a metallic, styptic taste in the mouth, painful feeling in the epigastrium, frequent attacks of colic followed by frequent discharges of fluid stools, painful distention of the abdomen, some anxiety, general prostration, palpitation of the heart, (to which she was subject, more or less) a feeble and somewhat irregular pulse. The servant girl who was robust and vigorous, exhibited the same symptoms, except that her pulse was fuller, her colicky pains were more violent, and the liquid stools more frequent. The daughter had the same symptoms, and moreover eructations tasting of copper, intense pains in the epigastrium and abdomen without diarrhoea, violent headache, fainting turns, cold sweats, and a contracted, small, somewhat irregular pulse.

Leopold Salzer
Leopold Salzer, MD, lived in Calcutta, India. Author of Lectures on Cholera and Its Homeopathic Treatment (1883)