Zincum Metallicum - General symptoms - Clarke

GENERAL

General

Zincum metallicum. Zinc. An Element. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. A. W. 64.9. Trituration of the metal.

Alcoholism. Amblyopia. Asthma. Brain-fag. Brain, paralysis of. Breasts, affections of. Cataract. Chilblains. Chin, eruption on. Chlorosis. Cholera. Chorea. Constipation. Cracks. Dentition. Diarrhoea, nervous.

with stupor. Diphtheria. Dysentery. Dysuria. Earache. Eczema. Enuresis. Eruptions.

suppressed. Eyes, affections of.

granular lids. Fag. Foot-sweat.

suppressed. Gastralgia. Headache.

nervous. chlorotic. Heels, pains in. Hernia, inguinal. Hiccough. Hydrocephalus. Hyperpyrexia, nervous. Hypochondriasis. Hysteria. Inframammary pain. Joints, creaking in. Ups, affections of. Lochia.

suppressed. Neuralgia.

during pregnancy. of external genitals. Whooping-cough. Worms.

Zincum belongs to the Magnesium group of metals, comprising also Cadmium and Glucinum.

It has long been known in the Artemisia Vulgaris ^arts, especially in its combination with Cuprum Metallicum ^Cuprum in the manufacture of Brass. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. was proved by Hahnemann and his associates, and it appears among the remedies of his Chronic Diseases. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. poisons the brain and nerve, and it corresponds to nerve-poisoning of various kinds.

The word "fag" covers a large part of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. action; it may be nerve- or brain-fag; or it may be muscle-fag.

Fag means that tissues are worn out faster than they can be repaired.

Zincum Metallicum leaves them poisoned by waste products. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. meets the effects of brain-fag from over-study; from night-watching; fatigue.

But there is another kind of nerve-poisoning met by Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. the poisoning of suppressed eruptions or discharges.

The common old-school use of Zinc ointment to suppress eruptions, and Zinc injections to suppress discharges, is based on fact Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. does suppress them, and it transfers the morbid action to the nervous system, setting up a poisoning there.

and, conversely, in homoeopathic attenuations Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. can reverse the process.

It can restore suppressed eruptions, can cure the consequences of suppressions, and can set free the reactive power in conditions of undeveloped disease.

Some of the keynotes of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. will be present to give the clue.

The most important of these is "Incessant and violent fidgety feeling in feet or lower limbs; must move them constantly; cannot keep them quiet." These movements may continue even during sleep.

Another is "Too weak to develop exanthemata or menstrual function, to expectorate, to urinate; to understand, to remember." Corresponding to these is "Relief to all suffering as soon as menses begin to flow," or as soon as other excretory functions are restored.

In asthma" the patient cannot expectorate, but as soon as he can he is relieved" (Nash).

General twitchings and general trembling are, according to Nash, equally characteristic of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. He records this case Miss X., 20, had been ill for a week with headache, loss of appetite, and especially prostration.

Over-study was the cause.

Under Gelsemium Sempervirens ^Gels., and later Bryonia ^Bry., she was improving, when she threw off the bedclothes whilst sleeping and perspiring, and took a chill.

The bowels became enormously distended; profuse haemorrhage occurred (finally controlled by Alumen ^Alumen), a low form of delirium came on, and prostration increased in spite of the cessation of haemorrhage.

Zincum Metallicum was the condition Staring eyes rolled upward, head retracted.

complete unconsciousness, lying on back and sliding down in bed.

twitching, "or rather intense, violent trembling all over so that she shook the bed," her hands had to be held constantly night and day by nurses.

pulse intermittent, uncountable.

all signs, in short, of impending paralysis of the brain." Two drops of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. 200 were mixed in two teaspoonfuls of water.

One teaspoonful was worked, a little at a time, between the set teeth; and the rest half an hour later.

About an hour after the latter dose the patient turned down her eyes and said "Milk." Through a bent tube she swallowed half a glass of milk, the first nourishment she had taken for twenty-four hours.

From that time she improved steadily, and received no more medicine for four days.

Afterwards she had a dose of Nux Vomica ^Nux.

Recovery was perfect. A. W. Holcombe (Hahn. Ad., xxxviii. 27) reports this case Man, 40, had gonorrhoea suppressed by local treatment three months previously.

A week before Holcombe saw him first he was unable to pass water, and had to resort to the catheter.

Since then could pass urine, but passed almost pure blood with it.

Could only urinate when sitting down with knees spread apart.

Great soreness of perinaeum; on sitting down had to sit sideways on chair. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. cm one dose.

Five days later perinaeal soreness gone, could urinate freely in any position, and had a profuse whitish discharge from the urethra.

Suppression of foot-sweat; of lochia; of milk, are all caused and cured by Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. Weyner (H. R., x. 152) relates the poisoning of cows pasturing near a cadmium mine, near which Zinc-smelting was carried on.

These were some of the effects General emaciation, skin clinging tightly to the body; eyes pale bluish, drawn back into the orbits; horns and ears unequally warm, mouth hot and shiny and hanging down, at times dry; appetite undisturbed; rumination slower; dung grass-green, thin-flowing and fetid; at times cough.

As the disease progressed emaciation increased, the horns became rough, milk dried up, and diarrhoea increased till the animals could no longer rise, and died of total prostration. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. meets these suppression-effects paralysis and vertigo from brain softening following suppressed foot-sweat.

chorea from eruptions suppressed by gout.

puerperal convulsions from suppressed eruption.

nymphomania from suppressed lochia. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. has a strong action on the generative sphere, it excites both sexes and causes seminal losses and prostatorrhoea of the male, and nymphomania and masturbation in the female.

Zincum Metallicum may be associated with varicosis or pruritus of the external genitals.

A notable symptom of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn., and one which may indicate it in children and in delirious cases, as well as in affections of the genitals themselves, is that the patient is continually pressing on the pubes or applying the hand to the genitals.

With the emission there is backache, which is temporarily amel. by the emission; and with the female sexual disorders there is also backache and spinal irritation.

Dull aching in spine, agg. when sitting.

Burning pains all along the spine.

The burning pains of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. appear in many parts.

Pricking, pressive, cramp-like pains, tension and constriction are also present.

Neuralgia in malar bones with pressive pains.

Pressure at root of nose as if it would be pressed in.

The constriction is especially felt in the chest, and is connected both with respiration and the heart. "Sudden, spasmodic, bursting sensation about heart.

it appears to be beating regularly, when it suddenly seems as if it would burst through the chest." Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. affects the blood-vessels and corresponds to varicosis varices of the labia.

of the thighs, running into the labia.

of the legs, with fidgety feet.

Numbness, tingling, formication, and fainting spells are other nervous effects of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. It has an insatiable craving hunger and goneness, notably at 11 a.m.; thirst quite as great; and "hasty eating" and "hasty drinking" are among the keynote symptoms.

Another of the first importance is intolerance of wine wine aggravates all symptoms.

Zincum Metallicum is noteworthy in states of nervous exhaustion, which usually crave stimulants.

There is the aversion to wine.

Other characteristic aversions are Meat (especially veal); sweets; cooked or warm food.

Eating as well as wine-drinking agg. the pain.

There is a tearing headache, most in side of head, agg. from wine, agg. after dinner.

Pain may account for the anxious scream which accompanies the convulsions of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. The child springs up in bed, gnashing teeth, eyes rolled up.

A characteristic of brain affections of children is "crossness in the evening." On waking there is delirium as if frightened, knows no one. "Child repeats everything said to it" is another leading symptom. "Grits teeth" occurs in these conditions, and will often give Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. a place in worm cases.

Among the symptoms indicating lack of power is "teeth fail to develop." The "fidgety feet" of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. are not the only automatic movements of the remedy, though the most characteristic.

There are automatic movements of mouth, arms, and hands, and general restlessness.

Among other features of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. is blueness of surface.

Related to this is the tendency to chilblains, which are swollen and painful, and easily made worse by rubbing.

There is sensitiveness to frost-bite; the tip of the nose is easily frost-bitten, and the nose remains red long after it has been frost-bitten.

The hands and feet are affected with inflammation, painful eruptions, cracks.

There is also a "frost-bitten feeling" in the toes.

All these point to a lowered state of vitality.

Peculiar Sensations are As if she had a large goître which she could not see over.

As if hair bristled. Uneasy, as if he had committed a crime.

As if he would have apoplexy.

As if scalp were drawn together.

Pains as if between the skin and the flesh.

As if head were moving up and down, with a similar floating of images of his fancy.

As if he saw through a mist.

As if he would fall over to other side.

As if head were swaying back and forth.

Nauseating weakness as after smoking too strong tobacco.

As if eyes were drawn together by a cord.

Stupefying headache as from coal gas.

As if root of nose would be pressed into head.

As if head would be drawn backward.

As if air forced itself into frontal sinuses.

As if head would burst.

As if strained in occiput.

As if scalp wrinkled up and kept tightening.

As if insects were crawling from occiput to forehead.

Feeling in eyes as if she had wept much.

As if sand in eyes. As if upper lids paralysed.

As if teeth would be pulled out with neuralgia.

As if teeth long and loose.

As if a web drawn across throat.

As if a hard body were opposing pressure from pharynx into abdomen.

As if food remained sticking in pharynx after dinner.

As if stomach compressed or empty.

As of a heavy weight in hypochondria.

As if abdominal walls were retracted against spine.

As if flatus pressing against coccyx.

As from worms crawling in anus.

As if testicles tightly compressed and drawn up.

As if pudenda swollen.

Cough with stitches in chest and feeling as if chest would burst.

Chest as if hollow and cold; constricted; cut to pieces.

As if a foreign substance rising up throat.

Emptiness behind sternum.

As if a cap on heart. Pain in cervical muscles as if head had been in uncomfortable position.

As if cold water were poured down her back.

As if muscles of wrist too short.

As if kidney would be twisted off.

Wrist and foot as if sprained.

As if soles swollen. As if tendons of right sole too short.

As if ball of great toe frozen.

The headache and eye symptoms of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. are well marked, and "Headache with sympathetic amblyopia" may be regarded as a keynote Kafka (H. R., x. 153) relates the case of a "pale yet vigorous lady of forty" who for two years had had a headache recurring periodically every ten to fourteen days without warning. Simultaneously with the headache was a weakness of vision, she seemed looking through a fog, and could not distinguish even large objects. The pain, which lasted two or three days, now increasing, now diminishing, was a pressure on vertex and forehead from without inward. Face pale, appetite deficient, head muddled, mood cross and peevish. In forenoon the pain was bearable, in afternoon agg., and still agg. evening, when reflex nausea, and even vomiting, occurred. The amblyopia went pari passu with the severity of the pain, and disappeared as the pain left off. Pupils rather contracted, eyes otherwise normal. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. 3 was given morning and evening. The pains diminished immediately and were gone in twenty-four hours. The remedy was taken in the evening daily for a week. There was no relapse. F. W. Payne (N. A. J. H., xiv. 131, quoting A. M.) reports this case of cataract Right eye partially affected, and left practically useless for vision, with bruised, sore, smarting, burning, itching, and stinging sensation.

at intervals, suddenly, sensation as if pepper had been thrown into it, causing scalding lachrymation and spasm of the lids. These spells were agg. in evening. Burning dryness as if a stick under lid scratching eyeball. Flickering before left eye.

blue and green rings. green halo round gas-jet at times. Slight irritation of conjunctiva and tendency of lids to adhere. agg. By warmth, on warm days, by artificial light. Patient nervous, tremulous, impatient, agg. by mental emotion. Choreic jerkings of individual muscles. Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. 200, given occasionally, steadily improved the case. In six months right eye was quite clear, and the left steadily gaining. Eleven years later vision was practically perfect, though some small streaks could still be found in the left lens. Gerstel (H. R., x. 97) calls attention to the action of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. in fevers with inflammation of the brain. In these cases the seat of inflammation was the meninges. He refers to a case of a child suffering from scarlatina who was in this condition Entirely motionless.

carphologia, subsultus tendinum, constant trembling of the hands.

The symptoms of Zincum Metallicum ^<">Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. are agg. By touch. Pressure agg.

(amel. conjunctivitis; toothache; left ovarian pain). Rubbing and scratching amel. Jarring, riding agg. Rest agg. Sitting agg. Lying agg.

(amel. vertigo). agg. By motion, active or passive "Child screams out whenever it is moved." Walking.

lifting. exertion agg. Looking up = vision of falling luminous objects, and dizziness. agg. Evening and night. 11 a.m. to 12 sinking agg. Rheumatism agg. from over-heating. Wails and moans during sweat. agg. By chill when heated. Warm room agg. Warm water amel. conjunctivitis. Open air agg.

(amel. headache and drowsiness). Very sensitive to draught. agg. By cold touch (i.e., when patient touches anything cold). Sea bathing = herpes in mouth. Approach of storm = chills. amel. While eating.

agg. after. Eating agg. Drinking agg. (as soon as liquid reaches stomach he vomits). agg. From Sugar.

wine. milk. Emissions amel. (temporarily). Sensitive to others talking and to noise.

Characteristics

Zincum Metallicum ^Zn. 2 saved the patient.