Stannum. Tin. Sn. (A. W., 118.8) Trituration of the pure metal.
Clinical
Anaemia. Asthma. Bronchitis. Chilblains. *Colic. *Consumption.
Convulsions. Cramps. Debility. Dentition. *Diaphragm, *pains in. Dyspepsia. Ears, ring-holes, ulceration of. Epilepsy. Epistaxis. Gastralgia. Haematemesis. Haemoptysis. Headache. Hectic fever. Hemiplegia. *Hypochondriasis. Hysteria. Lachrymal fistula. Lachrymal sac, suppuration of. Milk, altered, Nails, splitting. *Neuralgia. Neurasthenia. Opisthotonos. Paralysis. Phthisis pituitosa. Ptosis. Sleeplessness. Styes. Tapeworm. Trachea, affections of. Uterus, prolapse of. Vagina, prolapse of. Worms.
Characteristics
*Stannum is the Jupiter of the alchemists. “The ancients have recorded wonderful cures of the most serious diseases with Tin,” says Hahnemann, but in his day, until he proved it, its only use was as a vermifuge. Alston obtained indirectly from “a woman of Leith in Scotland” this prescription, of which he has witnessed the efficacy in a case of tapeworm: “Take an ounce and a half of Tin (pewter metal) and grind it small to powder, mix it with sugar syrup, and take, on a Friday before the change of the moon, one-half of it, the following day the half of the remainder, and the Sunday following the rest, but on the Monday a purgative.” Alston also says, in his *Materia Medica, that he has seen haematemesis cured by this as if by magic. Hahnemann’s proving appears both in his *Materia Medica Pura and in his *Chronic Diseases. A number of worm symptoms appear in the pathogenesis: Sinking, empty, all-gone feeling, diaphragmatic and abdominal pains, tendency to excessive mucous secretions, pale, sunken, sickly countenance, with dark rings round eyes, convulsions. Many of these symptoms occur in conditions not due to helminthiasis, and *Stannum will be the remedy. Pains in the hypochondria, associated with the hypochondriac or hysterical mental state. Diaphragmatic neuralgia. Colic better by hard pressure, as by laying the child with its abdomen across the knee or on the point of the shoulder. This is one of the keynotes of *Stannum, but the most important one is in the type of the *Stannum pains: they begin lightly, increase gradually to the highest point and then as gradually decline. Other remedies have pains of this type but not to the same characteristic degree. This feature applies to the headaches, facial and dental neuralgias, abdominal and other pains. Another cardinal feature of *Stannum is *weakness: exhaustion of mind and body. The chest is so weak as to make talking impossible. The patient is so weak, she *drops into a chair instead of sitting down. While dressing in the morning has to sit down several times to rest. There is weakness and aching of the deltoid and arm, and this has the curious modality that it is felt *when sighing or otherwise using the voice. *Stannum is an important remedy for singers and public speakers. The weakness of *Stannum makes it an appropriate remedy for many states of neurasthenia, nervous exhaustion. A peculiarity of the weakness is that it is felt much more on going down stairs than on going up. The relaxation of tissue is probably responsible for the weak, empty, sinking sensation felt at the epigastrium, and also for the uterine prolapse. In the dyspepsias of *Stannum there is nausea and vomiting from the smell of cooking, and the gastralgia compels the patient to walk about for relief, yet the *weakness is so great that he is soon compelled to rest. The weak, empty feeling in the chest is one of the notes of *Stannum in phthisical conditions, and the stitches are another, hectic fever, deep, hollow, shattering cough, expectoration, profuse like white of egg, sweetish, salty, sour putrid, musty, yellow-green pus, deep, husky, hollow voice, better for the time by hawking or expectorating mucus make up the rest of the picture. *Stannum is a low spirited remedy, and when phthisical patients are despondent and without hope (they are usually the reverse) *Stannum will most likely be needed. (The *yellowness of the *Stannum secretions is worth nothing: The tongue is yellow, sputa and leucorrhoea are also yellow.) Palpitation and anxiety occur from ever so slight exertion, as giving directions about the household. Trembling of arms and legs, limbs as heavy as lead. The pains of *Stannum are frequently compressive and cramp-like, and cramps and spasms are a marked feature of the *Stannum effects. The convulsions are opisthotonic, the thumbs are drawn in. They are such as are met with in teething children, or in children who masturbate, or who have worms. A typical case of *Stannum neuralgia is quoted in *Clinique (xxi. 62): Man, 30, suffered for eight years off and on, and for some months continuously, with neuralgic headache. Pain centers over one or other eye (usually right) and extends over whole or part of head and is at times unbearable. It begins in early morning (4 to 5 A.M.), increases gradually to noon, when it gradually declines to sunset, reappearing again the following morning. Two doses of Stannum cured in a fortnight. There is sexual excitement in both sexes. Emissions with excessive prostration. In the female the menses are early and profuse. Orgasm is easily produced: “Scratching arm produces an intolerable sensation of pleasure in genital organs which extends to uterus and produces orgasm.” The uterine and vaginal prolapse of *Stannum has this distinguishing feature: it is worse during stool, especially during pressure. Labour pains are spasmodic and put the patient out of breath. The milk of nursing woman is changed, and the child rejects it. Hering gives as cured by *Stannum “Monday constipation” that is, constipation occurring on days following rest-days. *Stannum has marked periodicity. T.H. Urquhart (quoted H. R., iv. 147) cured in two months an affection of the nails characterized by breaking and splitting, a sequel of scurvy, by applying to them *Stannum oleate on a narrow flannel bandage. *Peculiar Sensations are: As if all objects were too far off. As if forehead were shattered. As if forehead would be pressed inward. Pain as if from an ulcer in hypogastrium. As if there were a hole in his side. As if there were no sensation in bladder. Chest, as if eviscerated, as if internally constricted. Epigastric region as if beaten. Tickling as from soreness in trachea. Inclination to hawk as if mucus were in chest. As if she would faint. As if limbs beaten. As of a heavy load in affected arm and side of chest. As if sweat would break out. The “girdle” sensation of *Stannum accompanies yawning. The secretions of *Stannum are bland. The symptoms are worse by touch. Better by pressure. Better lying across something hard. Worse rest. Worse lying, (but must lie down from weakness of chest). Worse lying on right side. Sitting bent over better (Cough). Bending double better. Walking better pains, but must soon rest. Motion better pains in head, but worse other symptoms. Worse using voice (laughing, talking, singing). Worse going down stairs (faintness). Blowing nose causes shrieking noise in ear. Warm drink causes cough. Open air better, (worse vertigo). Worse during stool.
Relationships
*Antidoted by: Pulsatilla *Complementary: Pulsatilla *Follows well: Causticum, Cina. *Is followed well by: Calcarea, Phosphorus, Selenium, Sul., Bac. Compare: Sour sensation in stomach, Chelidonium, Phosphorus, Sepia Weeps all the time, but crying worse (Natrum mur. worse by consolation), Pul. (menses scanty, delayed ), Sepia Worse descending, can go up well enough, Brx. (Calcarea opp.) Pain increases and decreases gradually, Platina, Stro. c. (Argentum m. has headache increasing gradually and leaving off suddenly). Weakness seems to proceed from chest, (from abdomen, pelvis, Phosphorus, Sepia). Nausea from smell of cooking food, Arsenicum, Colchicum Worse laughing, Argentum m. Worse warm drinks, (worse cold drinks, Spo.). Weak from talking, Cocul., Verbascum, Sul., Calcarea Prolapsus uteri worse during stool, Podophyllum (Podophyllum with diarrhoea, stool green and coming with a rush). Catarrhal phthisis, Silicea (More induration, old people), Phosphorus (more blood in sputa), Seneg. (Lungs feel pushed back to spine, fat persons of lax fibre), Colchicum, Bals-Peru., Eriodict., Teuc. scorod., Illic., Pix., Myos. Paralysis by emotions, Staphysagria, Natrum mur. better Hard pressure, Coloc., Plb. Pain like subcutaneous ulceration, bland discharges, Pulsatilla Claw sensation, Belladonna Nausea in throat, Cyclamen, Ph. ac., Val.
Causation
Emotions. Fright. Masturbation. Dentition. Using voice.
Mind
Sad, hypochondriacal humour. Great agitation and anguish, melancholy and disposition to weep. Sad, despondent, feels like crying all the time, but crying aggravate. Quiet fretfulness, answers unwillingly and abruptly. Continued restlessness with anxiety. Her distress of mind ceases as soon as menses begin to flow. Uneasy, does not know what to do with himself, pains better by walking, but so weak he soon must rest. Earnest application to business, with inability to complete anything undertaken. Discouragement. Ill-humour, with taciturnity and dislike to society and conversation, hopelessness. Sudden fits of passion. Nervous excitement.
