Hydrofluoric acid. ***HF. Made by distilling pure fluor spar (Calcium fluoride) in a state of fine powder with sulfuric acid. Solution.
Clinical
*Abscess. Alcoholism. Alopecia. Apoplexy. *Bone, *affections of. Brain, atrophy of. *Cicatrix. Coccygodynia. Decubitus. Dropsies. *Eyes, *affections of. *Fistula. Gleet. *Goitre. Gonorrhoea. *Haemorrhoids. *Hair, *falling out. *Hands, *perspiring. Headache. Hydrocele. Liver induration of. *Locomotor ataxy. Naevus. *Nose, *inflammation of. Nymphomania. Otorrhea. Peritonitis. *Perspiration. *Pityriasis. Satyriasis. Splenalgia. Suppuration. *Syphilis. Teeth, defective. Toothache. *Tongue, *ulceration of. Varicosis. *Veins, *diseased. Whitlow.
Characteristics
*Fluoric acid. acts on the lower tissues of the body much like *Silica, which it follows and precedes well. It is useful after the abuse of *Silica. The modalities of the two are different, *Fluor. *ac. having better from cold applications. It acts on the bones, especially the long bones, causing caries and necrosis, and favors the expulsion of the necrosed part. Fistulae, rectal, dental, and lachrymal come within its sphere. Old cicatrices become redder and itch. Small red spots here and there, worse by warmth, better in cool place. Red blotches on body which tend to desquamate. Nails grow rapidly. Teeth are deficient in enamel, black, rough, unsightly-looking. Increased sensitiveness of vision and hearing. According to Guernsey *Fluor. *ac. affects the right ear, left teeth, left hypochondrium, left side of abdomen, right side and nape of neck, right side of back. ***T. F. Allen has recorded an experience (*N.A.J.H., 1886, p. 288) showing the applicability of *Fl. *ac., in whitlow. A lady spilled some of the acid on her hand and though treated at once with turpentine a few spots escaped on one hand, and these soon gave her great pain, intensely pulsating. The pulsations involved the tip of the thumb especially, though this had not been touched by the acid. It was not red like the spots touched by the acid but was sore to touch, and when pressed there was a sensation as of a splinter under the nail and in the cellular tissue. This lasted some days. The whole hand was swollen and hot, better in cool, open air. In a workman whose hand was exposed to the fumes of the acid there was intense throbbing pains especially in the thumb, suppuration occurred later and was very slow to heal. According to Mc Lachlan, the left hand is affected rather than the right and the pus tends to point on the dorsum of the finger. Better From cold washing distinguishes it from *Silica. *Fl-ac. is also distinguished from *Silicea by the general better from walking in the open air. “A constant, irresistible desire to walk in the open air, its does not fatigue,” is characteristics of *Fl-ac. Hunger predominates. There is worse from wine like *Zincum met., but also worse from red wine, which is peculiar to *Fluor. *ac. Abdominal symptoms better by tightening clothes (*Nat. *mur. opp. *Lachesis, *Hepar). Peculiar symptoms are: Increased ability to exercise his muscles without fatigue. Is less affected by excessive heat in summer or cold in winter. Sensation as of a cold wind blowing under lids, even in warm room, as of air passing down from shoulder-joint to fingers. Numbness of limbs even when not lain on. Motion worse. Bending backward, and bending head back better. Cold drinks worse toothache, washing with cold water better. Warm drink worse diarrhoea. Symptoms seem to go from below upward. Suited to complaints of old age, and premature old age, weakly constitutions, sallow skin, emaciation.
Relations
*Compatible: after Arsenicum in ascites from gin-drinker’s liver, after Kali-c. in hip disease, after Ph-ac. in diabetes. *Compare: Coca (fatigue), Coffea (toothache), Cit-ac. and Sepia (aversion to one’s family), Ox-ac. (diarrhoea worse from coffee), Rhus t. and
Ruta (coccygodynia), Silicea (fistula, onychia, bone diseases, coccygodynia), Bromium, Iodium, Spongia and Kali-c. (goitre), Staphysagria (teeth). *Followed well by: Sulph., nitricum acidum
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Uncommon buoyancy of mind, fears nothing and is self-satisfied. Disposition to be exceedingly anxious, causing perspiration. Aversion to his own family. Sensation as if danger menaced him. Forgetfulness of dates and of his common employment.
Head
Vertigo with sickness of the stomach. Congestion of blood to the head (forehead). Dullness (towards night) in the occiput. Dullness and pressure in occiput. Sensation of numbness in the forehead. Heaviness above the eyes, with nausea, worse on motion. Compressing pain in the temples. Headache better by profuse flow of urine. Severe pressing pain in temples, from within outward. Pain along the sutures. Caries of the temporal bones. Sensation of weakness, like numbness in the head ( and hands). Itching of the head. Falling off of the hair, the new hair is dry and breaks off. Baldness.
Eyes
Violent itching in the canthi. Burning in the eyes. Pressure, as if it were behind right eyeball. Fistula lachrymalis. Sensation of sand in the eyes, or as if a fresh wind was blowing on them.
Ears
Intolerable itching in both ears. Singing in ears. Hardness of heating better bending head back.
Nose
Red, swollen, inflamed nose. Obstruction of the nose. Fluent coryza.
Face
Heat in the face, desire to wash it with cold water. Perspiration, especially in the face. Crusta lactea, dry, scaly, itches very much. Tubercles in skin of forehead and face, suppurating, syphilis infantum.
Mouth
The teeth feel warm (left upper jaw). Fistula (near the right eye-tooth) with great sensitiveness of the upper jaw to the touch. Sensation of roughness (lower incisor teeth). Toothache worse from cold drink, or better until water becomes warm in mouth. Rapid caries of teeth. Acrid, foul taste from the roots of the teeth. Increased flow of saliva. Increased flow of saliva (with sneezing, with pricking of the tongue.) In the morning the mouth and teeth are full of mucus. The posterior nares feel expanded during a walk. Tongue deeply and widely fissured in all directions, with a large, deep phagedenic-looking ulcer in the center.
Throat
Throat peculiarly sensitive to cold, slightest exposure resulting in inflammation, with increase of pain and impeded deglutition. Constriction in the throat with difficult deglutitions, in the morning hawking up of much phlegm which is mixed with blood.
Stomach
Hunger predominates. Thirst, craves refreshing drinks, Aversion to coffee. Eructation and discharge of flatulency, Frequent eructations. Nausea, eructations, and lassitude. Sickness of the stomach, with general heat. Fullness and pressure in epigastrium. Pressure from weight in the stomach, between meals. Heat in the stomach before the meal. Bilious vomiting after slight errors in diet, with increased alvine discharges, preceded by tormina.
Abdomen
Frequent passages of flatus and belchings, which relieve. Great tension and dropsical swelling of the abdomen. Pinching in the region of the spleen (extending to the hips), 11 a.m. Pressing pain in the region of the spleen and left arm. Sensation of emptiness in the region of the navel, with desire to draw a deep breath, better by bandaging and eating.
Stool
Soft small stools in the morning after drinking coffee, and again in the evening, with protrusion of the haemorrhoids. Watery stools in the morning after rising. Frequent passages of flatus and eructations (with constriction of the anus). Stool pappy, yellowish-brown, fetid, with tenesmus and prolapsus ani. Protrusion of the anus during an evacuation. Constipation, stools
infrequent and hard. Itching within and around the anus, in the perineum (evening).
Urinary Organs
Free discharge of light-coloured urine, affording relief. Very frequent discharge of light-coloured urine (thirst increased). Whitish purple-coloured sediment in the urine. Intolerable burning in the urethra during and after urination.
Male Sexual Organ
Increased sexual desire (in old men) with violent erections all night. Sensation of fullness in both spermatic cords. Highly excessive enjoyment and pleasure during coition. Seminal discharge tardy but free, and without bad after-feeling.
Female Sexual Organ
Menstruation too early and too copious, the discharge is thick and coagulated. Acrid leucorrhoea, itching.
Respiratory Organs
Itching in the larynx, which causes him to hawk and to swallow. Short frequent cough, mostly dry, white, frothy sputa. Itching under the ribs (left) Difficult respiration (afternoon and evening). During respiration wheezing (hydrothorax).
Chest
Oppression of chest, better bending backwards. Nipples itching, sore, cracked. Itching, redness, swelling of (right) nipple. Itching on left breast and right side of nose.
Heart
In the heart sensation of soreness, jerking.
Back and neck
Rigidity in the nape of the neck. Pain (headache) from the nape of the neck extending through the center of the head to the forehead. Bruised pain in the os sacrum and loins, better by stretching, bending backwards, and by pressure.
