Synonym. Platinum Metallicum. Preparation. Triturations of precipitated Platinum.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts chiefly upon the nerve centers, depressing the sensorium, and producing in general a tendency to anaesthesia, torpor and paralysis, manifested mostly in women in deranged sexual health, hysterical conditions and melancholia.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Illusions; everything around her is very small, and everybody inferior to her in mind and body. Arrogant, proud, haughty (Lachesis, Stramonium);looks down with pitiful contempt on others. Low- spirited, sad, apprehensive, inclined to shed tears (Ignatia, Natr. mur., Nux moschata, Pulsatilla). worse evening in the house, better in the open air. Alternate cheerful or depressed mood (Croc., Ignatia, Nux moschata, Stramonium). Feels that she is all alone in the world, and that life is wearisome, but dreads death, which she thinks is near at hand. Deathly anxiety, with trembling of the limbs, oppression of breath and palpitation. absent-minded and forgetful. Peevish, irritable, fretful mood; very sensitive to the lest word or action, however innocent (Caps., Nux v., Staphysagria). Easily excited to anger. Physical and mental symptoms alternate.
Head. Vertigo on sitting down or ascending stairs. Sensation of numbness in the head, especially in forehead as if constricted; intermittent cramp-like. Tense, numb sensation in temples, zygomatic and mastoid processes as if the head were screwed together, or too tightly bound (Aconite, Ant. tart., chel., Gelsemium, Mercurius). Periodical headache, increasing and deceasing gradually, worse from stooping, better from exercise in the open air. Numb pain on top of vertex, as if scalp would be contracted, as if a heavy weight were lying on it. Formication in one temple, extending to lower jaw, with sensation of coldness on that spot.
Eyes. Spasmodic twitching of the eyelids (Gelsemium). Intermittent, cramp-like pain near right outer margin or orbit. Objects appear smaller than they really are. Objects appear larger (Hyos).
Ears. Roaring, whizzing and ringing in the ears. Sticking jerking in right outer ear, with numbness and coldness extending through cheeks to lips.
Nose. Numbness and crampy pain in nose and root of nose (Aconite, Kali bichromicum, Mercurius iod.). Corrosive sensation on nose, as of something acrid.
Face. Face pale and sunken. Sensation of coldness, crawling and numbness in right side of face. Sensation of burning and redness in face, without any visible change in color. Cramp, pain, numbness and boring in malar bones, especially left.
Mouth. Toothache, with pulsating, digging pains. Numb pain in left lower teeth. Sensation as if the tongue were scalded (Iris, Pulsatilla). Crawling sensation on the tongue.
Stomach. Ravenous appetite, and greedy, hasty eating, with contemptuous mood. Empty eructations, after fasting, in morning; loud continuous nausea with great weakness, anxiety, and trembling sensation through the whole body (Ant. tart.). Fermentations in epigastric region. Flatulent soreness towards hypogastrium.
Abdomen. Sensation as if the abdomen were too tightly constricted. Pressing and bearing down in abdomen, extending into pelvis (Belladonna, Cimic, Lilium tigrinum, Pulsatilla Sepia).
Stool and Anus. Constipation; frequent urging, scanty stool, with sensation of great weakness. Crawling tenesmus in anus every evening before sleep. Stool indurated, as if burnt (Bryonia); preceded and followed by pressure. Stool adheres to rectum and anus, like soft clay.
Urinary Organs. Red urine.
Male Organs. Excessive sexual desire, with violent erections, especially 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.
Female Organs. Painful sensitiveness and constant pressure in mons veneris and genital organs. with internal chill and external coldness, except face. Frequent sensation as if the menses would appear. Menses to early and toe profuse (Calcarea c., Nux v.); lasting too long; flow dark and clotted (Ammonium carb., Cyclamen, Croc., Ignatia); with much bearing down and drawing pains in abdomen. Stitches in right ovarian region. Leucorrhoea like the white of an egg (Ammonium c., Borax, Bovis.)
Respiratory Organs. Deep breathing, caused by a sensation as of a weight on the chest (Ferrum, Nux v., Phosphorus). Inclination to draw a long breath prevented by a sensation of weakness in the chest (Stannum). Nervous, dry cough, with palpitation and dyspnoea. Cramp-like pain in left side of chest. Cramp-like constriction close to the shoulder.
Neck and Back. Tensive, numb sensation in nape, close to occiput, as if tightly bound. Weakness in nape of neck; the head sinks forward (Aloe, Cimic., Kali carb., Natr. mur.). Pain in back and small of back, as if bruised or broken (Belladonna, Nux v.). Numbness in sacrum and coccyx, while sitting, as after a blow.
Limbs. Tension in the limbs, especially thighs, as if wrapped tightly. Paralyzed sensation in left arm. Cramp-like pains; numbness in limbs and joints trembling of right thumb, with numbness. Sensation of great weakness in left knee. Tremulous, restlessness and tired feeling in legs and feet, when sitting, a numbness and rigidity, worse evenings in bed.
Generalities. Weakness and prostration. bruised pain on pressure in the parts affected by cramp-like pain. Tremulous sensation at times, through whole body, with throbbing in veins, Painful numbness here and there, as from a blow; in spots, more on head. Dull, pushing pains, as from a plug (Anacardium, Asafoetida, Ignatia). Pains generally increased and decrease gradually; Sodden heat; she though she was very red, but color same as usual.
Sleep. Great inclination to violent, almost spasmodic yawning. Sleeplessness, with great nervous excitability. Awakes at night and has difficult in collecting his senses.
Aggravation. In evening; before sleep; in room; at rest.
Amelioration. From motion in open air.
Conditions. Especially suited to females.
Compare. Aurum, Asafoetida, Belladonna, Croc., Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, Lycopodium, Plum., Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sabad., Sepia, Sulphur, Veratrum alb.
Antidotes. Pulsatilla, sp. nitr.d.
Platinum antidotes. Bad effects of lead.
THERAPEUTICS.
The chief use of Platinum is in the treatment of diseases of the female usual system and certain forms of mental and nervous disturbances arising there forms, the latter constituting the chief indication for its use. A peculiar haughtiness and pride, or a melancholia, or both combined, as described in the pathogenesis, are usually associated with the diseases referred to where Platina is indicated. It is very frequently called for in hysteria with the above symptoms; also hysterical spasms, from nervous excitement, with globus hystericus, and embarrassed respiration simulating asthma. Useful in mania, especially puerperal nymphomania, especially in lying-in women (Veratrum alb.), with voluptuous tingling extending from genitals into abdomen. Great sensitiveness of external organs, sometimes numbness. melancholia, with fear of death, which she thinks near. Anxiety. Palpitation and weeping. Sexual melancholia in both sexes. Hysteria and other characteristic mental and nervous symptoms of a reflex character, such as a dry, nervous cough, palpitation, spasms, sleeplessness, etc., from suppression of the menses or other uterine or ovarian disorders. Pruritus vulva, with voluptuous tingling, anxiety and palpitation of the heart.
Useful in indurated and prolapsed uterus, with continued pressure in the groins and back, sensation of numbness, sensitiveness to touch. May be indicted in fibroid tumors and uterine cancer, with same symptoms, and also with metrorrhagia, flow dark and clotted. Ovaritis, especially right side, with burning pain, occurring in paroxysms, sensitiveness spasms, with characteristic nervous symptoms, usually followed by a profuse flow of clotted blood. The Platina patient not only has the mental symptoms first mentioned, but also usually menorrhagia with dark, clotted blood, and an abnormal sexual appetite. In the male satyriasis. Bad effects of pre public masturbation, melancholia, epileptiform spasms, etc. Otalgia. Nervous deafness. Facial neuralgia (see symptoms). Gastralgia, hysterical, flatulent pressure towards hypogastrium. Painter’s colic; pain in umbilical region, extending through into back; patient screams and tries to relieve the pain by turning in all possible directions. Constipation, after lead poison or while traveling. Spasms, caused by nervous excitement; during labor; from sexual erethism; spasmodic affections in general occurring in hysterical women or in children. (Asafoetida, Ignatia). Neuralgia of various parts, characterized by tingling, and especially by numbness of the parts affected. Paralysis with numbness.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).