Plumbum

General action :

Lead paralysis ; attacks chiefly the flexor muscles, beginning in the flexors of the forearm. It also produces degeneration of all the tissues of the body, particularly of the brain and nervous system, characterized by sclerosis in the kidneys, heart and other organs ; a general interstitial proliferation of connective tissue. Degeneration of the spinal cord ; is very similar to spinal sclerosis, both pathologically and symptomatically.

Emaciation ; anaemia ; jaundice.

Trembling, twitchings and convulsions, even true epilepsy.

Violent pains in the limbs and body, < motion and cold, usually > pressure.

Hyperaesthesia of the surface, with restlessness, followed by anaesthesia and paralysis.

General aggravation at night and while lying in bed.

Delirium, with fear of assassination.

Numerous hallucinations and delusions, sometimes violent, with screaming and general convulsions.

Slow perception and loss of memory.

Yellow.

Optic nerve inflamed, swollen.

Pupils dilated.

Intra-ocular, suppurative inflammation.

Blue line along the margins of the gums.

Tongue red on the margins, with brown coat in the centre, which may be dry.

Tongue tremulous, paralyzed.

Fetid breath.

Sense of constriction, or swelling.

More or less paralysis of the pharyngeal muscles, with difficult swallowing.

Loss of appetite ; at times, unquenchable thirst.

Hiccough, nausea ; persistent vomiting, especially of food or even fecal, with colic and constipation.

Sensation as if a ball rose from the stomach to the throat, where it suffocated and prevented swallowing and speaking.

Most terrible colic, with retraction and hardness of the abdominal walls.

The pains radiate at the lumbar region, and the muscles contract into hard knots.

The terrible colic-like pains radiate to all parts of the body, and the walls of the abdomen seem to adhere to the spine.

Anus and Stool :

Anus drawn up, with terrible constriction.

Most obstinate constipation of hard, scanty feces, at times alternating with diarrhoea.

These usually associated with colic.

Frequent, ineffectual tenesmus, with discharge of urine by drops.

Micturition extremely difficult.

3"> Urine albuminous, of very low specific gravity.

Chronic interstitial nephritis, sometimes with haemorrhage in the kidneys and agonizing pains in the ureters or abdomen.

Vaginismus.

Dysmenorrhoea, with terrible abdominal pains.

Respiratory organs :

A short, nervous cough, sometimes with bloody expectoration.

Degeneration of the heart walls, with valvular murmurs.

Palpitation.

Heart's action feeble, slow, irregular.

Violent, lancinating pains extend from the back into the thighs.

Degeneration of the spinal cord (sclerosis), with paralysis of the lower extremities.

Fulgurating pains, especially in the thighs ; < evening and night, so violent as to make him cry out ; temporarily > pressure.

Paralysis ; not only of the arms, but of the legs.

Dilation of the veins on the forearms and lower legs.

Skin usually quite dry.