Hydrofluoric Acid. Preparation. One part of pure fluoric acid is dissolved in ninety-nine parts of distilled water, and preserved in gutta-percha vials. This corresponds to the 2x dilution. The 3x dilution is made with distilled water. The 4x dilution with dilute alcohol. Subsequent dilutions with alcohol.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts especially upon the vegetative system (a tissue remedy), affecting powerfully mucous surfaces, glandular structure and bones, presenting conditions analogous to those resulting from perverted nutrition.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Uncommon buoyancy of mind; fears nothing and is self-satisfied. Disposition to anxious ideas, apprehensive.
Head. Severe pressing pain in temples, from within outward, Dullness and pressure in occiput. Falling off of the hair. Caries of the skull bones, especially temporal. Pain along the sutures.
Ears. Intolerable itching in both ears.
Eyes. Sensation as if the eyelids were open by force, and a fresh wind were blowing on them. Sensation of sand in the eyes (Caust, Hepar s., Sulphur).
Nose. Fluent coryza. Red, swollen, inflamed nose.
Mouth. Sensation of warmth in the teeth. Increased flow of saliva. mouth and teeth coated with mucus in the morning. Rapid caries of teeth. Tongue deeply and widely fissured in all directions, with a large, deep phagedenic-looking ulcer in the center. Painful ulcer in right angle of jaw.
Face. Crusta lactea, dry, scaly, itching very much. Tubercles in skin of forehead and face, suppurating; syphilis infantum.
Throat. Throat peculiarly sensitive to cold, slightest exposure resulting in inflammation, with increase of pain and impeded deglutition. Constriction in throat, with difficult deglutition; in the morning, hawking of phlegm, mixed with blood.
Stomach. Hunger predominates; speedy satiety. Thirst; craves refreshing drinks. Frequent eructations. Nausea; with general heat. Bilious vomiting after slight errors in diet, with increased alvine discharges, preceded by tormina. Fullness and pressure in epigastrium. Feeling of weight in stomach between meals.
Abdomen. Frequent passage of flatus and belchings, which relieve. Great tension and dropsical swelling of the abdomen.
Stool. Constipation; stools frequent and hard (Bryonia).
Urinary Organs. Free discharge of light-colored urine, affording relief. Intolerable burning in the urethra during and after urination (Cantharis).
Male Organs. Increases sexual desire, with violent erections at night. Highly excessive enjoyment and pleasure during coition. Seminal discharge tardy but free, and without bad after-feelings.
Female Organs. Menses too early; too copious; discharge thick, and coagulated. Acrid leucorrhoea; itching. Nipples itching, sore, cracked.
Upper Limbs. Pain in right shoulder joint, extending toward fingers, with sensation as if air were passing down. Pain in left index finger; the whole finger is painful internally. Inflammation. Sensation of splinter under thumb-nail and in cellular tissue, when touched, pulsating pain in hand; worse in tip of thumb, which was sore to the touch; whole hand swollen and hot; suppuration; panaritium. Brittleness of the nails.
Lower Limbs. OEdematous swelling up to the abdomen. Burning itching in soles; feet hot and burn. Soreness between the toes. Soreness of corns. Varicose veins.
Generalities. Increased ability to exercise his muscles without fatigue. Lassitude. Disposition to walk rapidly and keep in constant and energetic motion. Loss of strength. Old cicatrices become red around the edges, and itch violently.
Sleep. Drowsy and sleepy in the early evening. Sleeplessness without inclination to sleep; a short sleep suffices and refreshes him. Dreams towards morning.
Fever. General heat with nausea. Profuse, sour, offensive perspiration; in the afternoon.
Aggravation. In morning, at rest; on rising; when standing; but better than when sitting.
Amelioration. From motion; while walking.
Compare. Antim crud., Arsenicum, Borax, Boracic ac., Calcarea c., Calcarea phos., Kali., Phosphorus, Mercurius, Silicea, Sulphur
THERAPEUTICS.
Fluoric acid is valuable remedy in disorders resulting from perverted nutrition, reminding us in its clinical action of Silicea, Calcarea, etc. It is useful in unhealthy, broken down constitutions, where there is a tendency to a destruction of tissue, especially in those who have ruined their systems by the use of intoxicating liquors, or who suffer from a syphilitico- mercurial dyscrasia. Useful in the complaints of old age, or in patients who are prematurely old from excesses and consequent perverted nutrition. In such we find a tendency to varicose veins and ulcers, bed-sores, syphilitic ulcers, exostoses, bone-pains, etc. Fluoric acid is invaluable in the treatment of diseases of the bones, particularly the long bones, especially caries, with a thin excoriating discharge; also caries of the temporal bone, especially of the mastoid process; also of the maxillary bones; bone fistula, particularly dental fistula, with persistent bloody, salt-tasting discharges, which render the mouth foul; lachrymal fistulae; felons, especially bone felons, with violent throbbing pains, sometimes sensation of splinter under the nail. Brittleness of the nails, which crumble or have longitudinal furrows. In all bone affections and suppurative processes Fluoric acid may greatly resemble Silicea, except that in the former there is relief from cold, whereas in Silicea the patient cannot bear cold. Synovitis. Sometimes useful in ascites, in the broken down constitutions of drunkards; also with enlargement, induration and sometimes degeneration of the liver. Hydrothorax. Chronic nasal catarrh. Goitre. Syphilitic ulcerations of the throat; ozoena; otorrhoea. Alopecia areata. Naevi. Old cicatrices become red and itch violently. Lupus-like tubercles. It is said that in many diseases Fluoric acid is indicated by the clinical symptom: “it seems as if she could walk forever,” there being a disposition to constant and rapid motion.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).