The Romans used lead in pipes for plumbing and to make hairpins and tokens for entry into arenas. Symptoms of lead poisoning include wrist drop (a weakness in the muscles controlling the wrist) and colicky, abdominal pain. These symptoms were observed in those who drank water with a high lead content. The homeopathic remedy is used to treat colicky pain and nerve damage. Plumbum met, is an important remedy for diseases that take a long time to appear, for example, sclerotic conditions or those with hardened tissue, including arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. The remedy has wide-reaching effects on the tissues, especially on muscles and nerves. It is given for weakness, spasm, and trembling in the muscles. Symptoms of muscle weakness include urinary retention and constipation with colicky pain.