Plumbum

(Plumbum Metallicum.)

Common name.- Lead.

General Analysis.-

Acts especially and with great power upon the nerve centers, first producing irritation, giving rise primarily to increased sensibility, neuralgic spasms, and convulsions.

This condition of the nerve centers gradually gives way to softening or induration, and as a result of this process there are anesthesia, paralysis, muscular atrophy, mental and physical decay, while at the same time there may occur, at longer or shorter intervals, neuralgia, epilepsy, or kindred affections of the nervous system.

Plumbum acts directly upon the kidneys, causing granular degeneration of these organs, and producing albuminuria ; hence its use in Bright's disease, and other renal affections.

The chief feature of Plumbum is the well known "lead colic," or "painter's colic," characterized by excruciating spasmodic pains in the abdomen, from contraction of the colon, with obstinate constipation.

Characteristic symptoms.

(Plumbum)

Slow perception ; apathetic. (Phos., Phos. ac.)

Loss of memory (Anac., Natr. mur., Nux m., Merc., Phos. ac.) ; unable to find proper word while talking . (Dulc.)

Quiet and melancholy mood.

Wild delirium, with distorted countenance.

(Plumbum)

Heaviness in the head, especially in cerebellum.

Headache, as if a ball were rising from the throat into the brain.

(Plumbum)

Yellowness of the sclerotica. (Cinch., Caust., Chel .)

Hypopion ; diplopia.

Loss of vision.

Pain in eyeballs, as if too large. (Carls., Phos. ac., Spig .)

Paralysis of the upper lids. ( Caust ., Gels., Nitr. ac., Op.)

Pupils dilated.

(Plumbum)

Sallow, pale complexion, like a corpse . (Carb. v.)

Expression of extreme anxiety and suffering. ( Ars., Camph ., Verat. alb .)

Lockjaw. (Cic., Ign., Hyos., Laur.)

(Plumbum)

Distinct blue line along margin of gums.

Tongue dry and white.

Tongue paralyzed ; cannot put it out. (Caust., Dulc., Gels ., Lach., Hyos.)

Margin of tongue red, brown fur down the center. (Bapt., Phos.)

Dryness of the mouth. ( Apis, Ars., Bry., Nux m., Puls .)

Taste sweetish . ( Aesc., Bry., Merc. cor., Sulph .)

Imperfect articulation. (Caust., Gels., Hyos., Stram .)

(Plumbum)

Constriction of the throat when trying to swallow. (Bell., Hyos., Stram.)

Tonsils swollen, inflamed, and indurated.

Paralysis of the throat, with inability to swallow. ( Bell ., Op., Nux m.)

(Plumbum)

Loss of appetite . (Alum., Ars., Cinch ., Phos.)

Violent thirst. (Acon., Ars., Bry., Merc., Phos. ac.)

Eructations sweetish, sour ( Carb. v., Nux v ., Phos., Sulph .) ; of offensive odor. (Cham., Sep., Kreos., Verat. alb., Phos .)

Incessant vomiting of food, of fecal matter, of brownish or blackish substances. (Ars., Phos.)

Pressure and tightness about the stomach.

(Plumbum)

Violent colic ; abdomen retracted to the spine, as if drawn in by a string . ( Chel ., Podo., Tabac.)

Constriction of the intestines . navel violently retracted ; recti muscles hard and knotty.

Excruciating pains in umbilical region, shoot to other portions of the abdomen and body ; somewhat relieved by pressure.

Lacerating pains at the umbilicus and epigastrium.

(Plumbum)

Constipation ; stools scanty, hard, in lumps or balls, like sheep's dung ( Alum ., Kali c., Op ., Mag. mur.) ; black or green color ; passed with difficulty.

(Plumbum)

Difficult micturition ; urine passed only in drops (Acon., Bell ., Canth.) ; ineffectual urging ; strangury. ( Merc. cor .)

Urine dark-colored and scanty ( Osm .) ; albuminous . ( Merc. cor ., Osm., Phos., Phyt.)

Male Organs.- (Plumbum)

Loss of sexual desire ( Agn ., Arg. nit., Camph.), or increased desire, and violent erections. (Agar., Canth., Graph., Nitr. ac.)

Female Organs.- (Plumbum)

Vaginismus . (Ham.)

Milk scanty.

Respiratory Organs.- (Plumbum)

Cough short, dry, spasmodic ; with purulent or bloody expectoration. (Cinch., Dulc., Kali c., Lyc., Phos., Sep., Sil.)

Suppuration of the lungs. (Phos.)

Pressure upon the chest. (Psor.)

(Plumbum)

Violent pains in the limbs, especially in muscular parts of thighs ; worse evening and night.

Sciatica when there is marked consecutive muscular atrophy, or earlier when walking causes great exhaustion.

Twitching and jerking in the limbs.

Coldness of the hands and feet.

Paralytic weakness in limbs.

Wrists drop.

Trembling of the hands.

Sharp neuralgic pains in lower limbs, mostly from hips to knees, occurring in paroxysms.

(Plumbum)

Extreme emaciation ( Ars., Phos., Natr. mur .) ; wasting of the muscles, especially of paralyzed parts.

Anaemia.

Anaesthesia ; hyperaesthesia.

Convulsions.

General prostration ; lassitude ; faintness.

Paralysis, preceded by mental derangement, trembling, spasms, or by shooting, darting, intense tearing pains in track of larger nerves ; the parts emaciate ; wrists drop, caused by apoplexy, sclerosis of brain, or progressive muscular atrophy ; alternating with colic.

Epilepsy, chronic forms ; before the spell, legs heavy and numb ; tongue swollen ; afterward, long-lasting, stupid feeling in head.

Arthralgic and neuralgic pains in trunk and limbs.

Sensation of constriction, with pain and spasm in the internal organs.

Entire lack of perspiration.

(Plumbum)

Dry, yellow (Bry., Cinch .), or bluish . (Lach.)

(Plumbum)

Sleeplessness at night ; sleepy during the day.

(Plumbum)

At night ; while lying in bed ; from drinking.

(Plumbum)

From rubbing.

Therapeutic Range.- (Plumbum)

Constipation ; colic ; neuralgia ; sciatica ; paralysis ; convulsions ; epilepsy ; phthisis ; jaundice ; Bright's disease ; vaginismus ; hysteria ; chronic meningitis ; sclerosis of the brain ; progressive muscular atrophy.

(Plumbum)

Alum ., Bell., Calc. c., Lyc ., Merc., Nux v., Op., Phos., Plat., Rhus tox., Stram., Sulph., Zinc .

Antidotes to Lead Poisoning.-

Alumnn, Alumina, Bell., Coccul., Hyos., Nux v., Op ., Plat., Stram., Zinc., electricity.

Alcohol as a preventive.

Milk.

Copyright © Robert Séror 2003

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