A brief history of potentizing machines

Abstract

From 1850 to 1920, coinciding with the rise of the science and technology of the industrial revolution, a number of homœopaths attempted to construct labour-saving machines by which they could create high potencies. This article1 describes these inventions, of which we have heard so much and yet, generally, know so little.

A review of machines and devices to potentize homeopathic medicines

“…Fluxion is another process of potentization, which was first discovered by B. Fincke. 28 In this process, the turbulence is created by allowing a high speed fluid flow over the particles. As the fluid flows over the particles, due to the high velocity of the fluid, the impact on each molecule becomes high and energy gets transferred to the particles due to the impact.…”

“…Boericke's Potentizer: F.E. Boericke made a potentizing machine as shown in Figure 1 28 in 1878. 34 This machine was based on succussing the particles and then diluting them until the desired potency was reached.…”

“…In Figure 1 Boericke's machine. 28 spite of automated reciprocating motion, since the machine was incapable of generating a high turbulent and chaotic flow field, the mechanical efficiency of the machine is moderate. Still, it might be possible to leach out silicate chains from the tube, if made of borosilicate glass, due to the constant shear stress applied during reciprocating motion.…”

Die Entwicklung einer neuen Potenziermaschine

“…Dunham stellte damit Hochpotenzen nach der Einglasmethode her. Pro Potenzstufe wurde 125-mal geschüttelt [17].…”

The Harmful Cure Observed by Hering and Kent in Contrast to Hahnemann's Concept of Gentle Restoration of Health

“…Fincke's machine started from a 30th potency, manually dynamised, which was then submitted to only a flow of continuous water. At the beginning of the 20th century Kent developed his own dynamising machine used by the company known as Ehrhardt & Karl to produce potencies above 1 M. A continuous flow of water passed through the tubes which were shaken 10 times before being emptied and refilled [43].…”