A FEW CALCAREA FLUORICA CASES


The changes in the mental attitude of the patients in the following cases is of interest. The mental symptoms were not outstanding and were given no particular consideration in making the prescriptions. The adult patients later volunteered the information that they were happier, felt less fear concerning the future and worried less about money matters.


The importance of Calcarea fluorica as a remedy has long been recognized by the homoeopathic school of medicine. A few cases to illustrate its action in disease may be of interest at this time because the effects of the fluorides on the various tissues of the body, when present in excessive amounts in the food or drinking water, have received much attention during the past few years. Government investigations carried out in North Dakota and other western states have traced the condition of the teeth, known as mottled enamel, to the presence of fluorides in the drinking water. In the course of some experiments in stock feeding at the University of Wisconsin, it was found that the presence of fluorides in the foods being tested resulted in serious bone defects in the herds.

The changes in the mental attitude of the patients in the following cases is of interest. The mental symptoms were not outstanding and were given no particular consideration in making the prescriptions. The adult patients later volunteered the information that they were happier, felt less fear concerning the future and worried less about money matters.

CASE 1, 7/3/25. Woman, age 55; large and fleshy; married, five children.

Varicose veins of both legs and vulva, very painful. Veins on lower legs stood out like ropes. Cries easily and without cause. Oppression of breathing in damp, chilly weather. Haemorrhoids for years. Depressed.

Calc. fl. 30-1 was given with immediate relief, after several other remedies had been tried without effect. Calc. fl. was repeated in various potencies over a period of two years. The varicose veins have not troubled her since, but she notices oppression of breathing if the weather is very damp. After being under treatment for a few months, this patient remarked that she felt better “in her mind”; that she knew that her financial troubles would straighten out somehow.

CASE II. 8/2/32. Woman, age 42; thin and weak; unmarried; office work.

Lump in left breast, size of a large egg, very hard. Rectal fistula operated in 1925 and again in 1930. Now it is discharging again and painful. Sinuses on both sides painful and aggravated by least cold. Very nervous and feels unequal to her work. Dizzy. B.P. 130/80. Anaemic. Calc. fl. 30-3 4 hours and Sac. lac.

Improvement was noticed first in the sinuses and then in breast. She has had Calc. fl. at intervals in gradually ascending potencies. The rectal fistula has been the last to go. She is now in the menopause and feels better than ever in her life. She has gained to normal weight and says that she is optimistic in spite of things that would formerly have worried her.

CASE III. 8/5/36. Boy, age 11 years.

Right submaxillary gland enlarged to the size of a small egg, very hard and painful. Developed gradually. Otherwise in good health except that he seems nervous. Calc. fl. 30-1.

Lump gradually disappeared. Mother mentioned that he slept better and was less irritable.

CASE IV. 3/7/37. Baby boy, age 11 months.

Mother wrote that baby had a sore on left cheek where he had fallen and injured it two weeks previously. It was swollen both inside and outside and hard like a marble with redness around it. The doctor to whom she had taken the baby said that it would need to be lanced soon. Calc. fl. 30-1 and Sac. lac.

There was a steady improvement. After the swelling was almost gone, a hard, white, lime-like substance discharged into the mouth.

CASE V. 5/19/38. Woman, age 45; widow, no children.

Severe menstrual pain; faints with the pain. Pain constant low in back. Menstrual periods at three weeks intervals and very profuse. Nervous; finds it difficult to concentrate on her work. She is attending business college, and feels she must push herself and earn as soon as soon as possible.

Her dentist tells her that her teeth lack time. Uterus about the size of a small grapefruit and very hard all through. B.P. 100/70. Anaemic. Calc. fl. 30-6 4 hours and Sac. lac.

Calc. fl. has been repeated in the 30th, 200th and 1000th when indicated, with steady improvement. The uterus is much smaller, the menstrual periods come at 28-day intervals and are becoming scanty. She has given up the idea of finishing business college; she says that she has enough to live on and is going to enjoy herself.

GRAND FORKS, N.D.

F. Margaret Peake