COPPER.
Introduction
Copper, one of our “most abundant metals, has been known from a very remote antiquity-even before iron” (Wagner’s Tech.). (They are both mentioned at the same time in the Bible-Gen. iv. 22.)
Hahnemann, who first proved metallic copper, included in its pathogenesis the provings and poisonings from Cuprum acet., especially verdigris, the basic acetate of copper, and Cuprum sulphate, the blue vitriol.
Hughes says, concerning Cuprum,”by which I mean the salts of copper in general as well as the pure metal; for there seems no difference in their action, and they were used indiscriminately by Hahnemann in his provings and citations from authors.”
Allen in his Encyclop. gives the pathogenesis of Cuprum acet. and Cuprum sulph. separately, and says: “Whether or not there is any essential difference in action between Cuprum met. and its ordinary salts, the collection here furnished will assist in determining.”
To prepare Cuprum, Hahnemann directed that a piece of pure metallic copper be rubbed upon a hard, fine whetstone, under distilled water in a porcelain bowl. The fine powder that sinks to the bottom is dried and run up to the 3d triturate with sugar of milk.
At present we are enabled to get our metallic copper in a purer and more finely-divided state by means of precipitation and this, after being well washed and dried, is triturated up to at least the 3d.
Symptoms
Hahnemann calls our attention to the fact that “most of the violent symptoms in those poisoned with copper are wont to appear in groups, lasting for a half or a whole hour, and they are apt to recur from time to time in renewed attacks with an almost identical composition of the symptoms,” and he adds,”copper is, therefore, all the more homoeopathically indicated in diseases that show themselves in such irregular attacks of similar groups of symptoms, as is the case with copper” (Chr. Dis.); he cites as the “chief sphere of the appropriate application of copper,” various kinds of partial or general clonic spasms, chorea, epilepsy, whooping cough, etc.
We can keep in mind that the action of Cuprum, as a medicine, is short in comparison with some of our remedies, Hahnemann saying that it “seems to extend over only a few days” (Chr. Dis.), while Sulph. “seems to act in the smallest doses for from 16 to 20 days” (Mat. Medorrhinum Pura).
“The poisonous action of copper, like that of most metals, is exerted primarily upon the alimentary canal, and secondarily, after absorption, upon the nervous centres” (Hughes).
Prominent features under the remedy are what might be spoken of as the “Big Four;” they are, cramps, convulsions, coldness and a tendency to collapse.
We have spasmodic contractions of flexor muscles, especially of the thumbs, fingers and toes, and these contractions will often serve as the key-note for prescribing the remedy in lesions of the nervous system.
It is of value in chorea (31) “where the spasms come on in paroxysms, associated with other symptoms which always appear grouped with these paroxysms; or when the paroxysm commences in one part-the finger or limb, for instance-and gradually extends until the whole frame is involved” (Guernsey’s Obstetrics). We may have chorea with hysterical symptoms, laughing, weeping. etc., or paroxysms of the most violent character, associated with vomiting and cold sweat (185). It is useful in chorea when caused by fright (81) or appearing during pregnancy.
The epileptic attacks (66) for which Cuprum is especially indicated are characterized by the most frightful spasms, with clenched jaws and fingers, thumbs underneath, stiffness of limbs and body, blueness of the surface and cold sweat. Talcott says that it is most useful in the epilepsy of “weak, nervous individuals; those in whom mental or physical overwork has advanced to complete exhaustion.”
It is to be thought of in convulsions from worms (36), uraemic convulsions (36) following cholera and puerperal convulsions (155), in all of which the spasms “are apt to begin with cramps in the extremities, especially in the fingers and toes” (Hughes). It is of especial value in convulsions preceding the outbreak of the eruption in scarlet fever or measles (130), or in the repression of the eruption, with symptoms of meningitis (133). The convulsions are ushered in with spasms of the flexor muscles, the thumbs clenched, and are accompanied by loud cries, frothing at the mouth, and blueness of the face and lips.
The headaches calling for Cuprum are severe and accompanied by spasmodic vomiting of all food and drink. We may have violent continuous headache, usually with intermittent pains and a feeling as if cold water were being poured over the head (90).
Another important condition calling for the remedy is violent headache over the frontal sinuses in nasal catarrh, “better when lying down.” (Hering). We find neuralgia of the face, with burning, stinging pains and aggravation from touch (79).
Spasm of the oesophagus is frequently noticed in Cuprum (147), with gurgling of drink on swallowing (184), or with a spasmodic cough and intense pain behind the sternum (184) on attempting to swallow.
Vomiting is frequent in gastric conditions needing this remedy; it is spasmodic and painful and may be noticed in the morning on waking, or on the slightest movement. We find severe intermittent cramps in the region of the stomach and abdomen, with vomiting, or violent cutting pain in the region of the stomach and going through to the back (180), with feeling as if the abdominal wall would be transfixed to the spine (11) and preventing the slightest movement.
In the abdomen we have neuralgia of the abdominal viscera, or the most horrible colics that are intermittent and associated with hiccough (116), convulsive vomiting and tendency to collapse.
It is of value in cholera (31) and choleraic stools, with desire for warm food and drinks (175), which are swallowed with a gurgling sound (184). The movements are associated with spasmodic vomiting and intermittent cramps of the most frightful character, in the stomach and abdomen, and severe clonic spasms in the extremities, especially of the flexor muscles, the thumbs clenched across the palms. The stools are frequent but not very copious and are accompanied by intense coldness and blueness of the surface, tendency to collapse, and usually suppressed urine (200).
Cuprum is of great value, and is used by many as a routine remedy, in after-pains (153), and especially so for women who have borne many children.
It is to be thought of in laryngismus stridulous and in spasmodic asthma (21), with thumbs clenched in the palms, blueness of the face, constriction of the throat and dyspnoea so intense that even a handkerchief cannot be tolerated near the face.
In whooping cough it is of great value, especially when the spasmodic character of the cough is very prominent (48); there is vomiting, the face becomes purple (47) and the child seems to almost suffocate. The paroxysms are better from drinking water.
Cuprum is of frequent use for the cure of that condition which causes spasmodic contraction or cramps of the toe or calf (71), and occurring especially at night. Before the days of homoeopathy, people were advised, for the relief of this condition, to hop out of bed and repeat the following prayer.
“The devil is tying a knot in my leg, Mark, Luke and John, unloose it, I beg.”
In intermittent fever Cuprum would be useful when there was icy-coldness of the whole body (121), predominating cramps in the limbs, blueness of the surface, collapse and suppression of urine.
I use Cuprum 30th.
