TIN.
Introduction
Hahnemann, who first proved Stannum, makes fun of the
allopaths, who then, as well as at the present time, were probably desirous of being looked upon as belonging to the scientific school of medicine. Hahnemann tells us that they “only know of tin as a remedy for tape-worm, and use it only in the form of tin filings, of which they theoretically (for careful testing is too much trouble for them), they theoretically declare `that it expels the tape-worm from the bowels solely in a mechanical manner, by means of its weight and sharp points,’ without thinking that, were this true, iron, silver or gold filings must be able to do the same.
“Now, in order to effect this theoretically inferred scouring out of the tape-worm by the sharp points of the tin filings with greater certainty, they gave to the patient these tin filings, in doses, the larger the better; as much as half of a whole ounce, or even more at a time, and this dose repeated several times” (Mat. Medorrhinum Pura).
For our use, pure tin is dissolved in hydrochloric acid and the metal then thrown down, in the form of powder, by the galvanic current. It must be triturated up to the 3rd before a dilution can be made.
Hahnemann, in his Materia Medica Pura, under Stannum, says, in a foot-note; “I used to carry the dilution up to the billion- fold” (6th), “but in the course of time found the million-fold (3rd) adequate for all medicinal purposes.”
While I use Stannum 3rd trit., I am not aware of it being conceded that it should not be used higher.
Symptoms
The sphere of action of Stannum is not well known, but its curative powers in bronchial and pulmonary diseases is well established.
There are two prominent symptoms of the remedy that we must keep in mind; one, the weak, gone feeling in the chest; the other, the gradual increase and decrease of the various pains (148).
There is a general weariness, and “great lassitude when walking” (Hering), a nervous weakness (156) and a sad, tearful mood but crying makes her worse (132), and as Farrington points out, “this low-spiritedness is found in the lung troubles for which Stannum is your remedy.”
The headache of Stannum is as from pressure inward in the left temple, or as from a hoop (105) pressing against the forehead and around the head; the pains gradually increase in severity and then gradually diminish until they disappear. The headaches are worse from motion (96), stooping and from noise (96).
Stannum is a valuable remedy for “blenorrhoea of the lachrymal sac, with profuse yellowish-white discharge” (Hering), and for stricture of the lachrymal duct (125). Moderate strictures, which are frequently dependent upon catarrhal inflammation, usually give better results from internal medication than from probing.
Stannum is useful in neuralgia of the stomach characterized by the gradual increase and decrease of the pain, and in neuralgia of the intestines, with nausea and retching, even to the vomiting of blood. In the colic of nursing infants it is of value when the pain is better from hard pressure (175), or by laying the child, face downward, across the knees or over the shoulder of the nurse.
It is a remedy of value in prolapsus of the uterus (203) and vagina, associated with great lassitude, and for leucorrhoea, which is thin, yellow and transparent, with great debility and bearing-down sensation, but in all these conditions we find especially a weak, drawn, or gone sensation on the chest.
In chronic catarrh of the pharynx we have hawking up of hard lumps of mucus and roughness and dryness of the throat. In acute bronchial catarrhs, the cough is worse from noon until midnight every day, and generally the cough is dry the forepart of the night. In both acute and chronic conditions the cough is worse from talking (43), laughing (41), warm drinks (41), or from lying on the right side (42).
While the expectoration may be salty (70), the characteristic expectoration is of small hard lumps (69), or balls of sweetish-mucus (70) that fly out of mouth when coughing, and roll on the floor. With the cough there is a sensation of great weakness of the chest (30) and they can speak only a few words at a time.
There is hoarseness on beginning to talk or sing (117), with a feeling of weakness and emptiness in the chest, so that she must stop constantly and take a deep breath; at times the hoarseness is better from expulsive cough.
In phthisis we would think of Stannum with the sensation of weakness of the chest and the expectoration of small balls of hard mucus that will roll on the floor.
In pleurisy (150) it is useful with knife-like stitches mostly in the left upper chest, the pains worse inspiration, pressure and when bending forward or stooping.
I use Stannum 3rd.
