Application of ammonium fluoride under an occlusive patch to the abdomen of a rabbit converts a simple scratch into a double row of sterile pustules. Sodium fluoride produces a similar response, but ammonium chloride does not produce pustules. . . . It appears that tissue damage and the presence of fluorides result in the ‘sterile pustular response.’ This can be called ‘enhancement of inflammation.’ The concentration of fluoride used will not induce inflammation, but it will enhance inf

Excerpt:

Application of ammonium fluoride under an occlusive patch to the abdomen of a rabbit converts a simple scratch into a double row of sterile pustules. Sodium fluoride produces a similar response, but ammonium chloride does not produce pustules. . . .

It appears that tissue damage and the presence of fluorides result in the ‘sterile pustular response.’ This can be called ‘enhancement of inflammation.’ The concentration of fluoride used will not induce inflammation, but it will enhance inflammation. . . .

We are not stating that iodide, fluoride, and nickel necessarily enhance inflammation in identical ways, but there is no doubt that they all enhance the inflammatory response. The fact that each of these substances produces the pustular patch test in man indicates that the reaction is not limited to animals. . . .

Summary

Application of a patch test of fluorides to a scratch on the rabbit’s abdomen converts the lesion to a double row of intraepidermal pustules. There is now experimental data to show that systemic iodide, topical iodide, and topical fluoride produce qualitative changes in the inflammatory cycle. Intraepidermal pustule formation is a new experimental phenomenon. We believe we are exaggerating the first cellular phase of inflammation.