Strontium metallicum has never been written about before. The only
Strontium that is fairly well known is
Strontium carbonicum, which has several clear keynotes but no well defined theme. Of
Strontium bromatum, nitricum and iodatum we have only got a few sparse symptoms here and there.
SignatureThe name has been derived from Strontian, Argyllshire, Scotland, where it was first discovered in 1790 in the lead mines in the form of strontium carbonate. The 90- isotope is radioactive. The metal has the ability to drive out and replace the calcium in our bones, hence its description as the nasty alter ego of
Calcium.
Strontium is a rather soft, silver white metal which changes into a light - to dark yellow colour when exposed to air. It is used in the manufacture of various paints, glass, rubber, enamel, batteries, electronic gadgets and pyrotechnic materials. Red fireworks contain strontium too. It is also used in the extraction of sugar from sugar beet molasses. It can deflect static electricity and is also used in instruments that measure the thickness and the density of different materials.