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          APIS MELLIFICA;

                OR,

    THE POISON OF THE HONEY-BEE,

 Considered as a Therapeutic Agent.


        BY C. W. WOLF, M.D.,

  Ex-District Physician in Berlin.


           PHILADELPHIA:
     PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE BY
  WILLIAM RADDE, 635 ARCH STREET.
               1858.




Transcriber's Note:

    Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.
    Inconsistent hyphenation has been standardised, whilst variant and
    archaic spellings remain as printed. The oe ligature is represented
    by [oe].




PREFACE.


Every physician who has spent years of an active life in prescribing for
large numbers of patients, is morally bound to publish his experience to
the world, provided he is satisfied, in his interior conscience, that
such a publication might be useful to the general interests of humanity.

In offering the following essay to my readers, I simply desire to fulfil
an obligation recognised as valid by the inner sense. This essay
contains every thing that an experience of forty years in the
conscientious and philanthropic exercise of my profession has sanctioned
and confirmed as truth. Nor have I adopted a single fact, suggested by
my own observation, as correct, without contrasting it with the most
approved records of medicine. To every true friend of man, and more
particularly to every physician who considers the business of healing
disease as the highest office of medical art, I offer this essay for
further trial and examination. May the statements expressed in it either
be confirmed or else corrected and improved by those who excel in more
thorough knowledge and ability.

                                                           THE AUTHOR.

_Berlin, Oct., 1857._




APIS MELLIFICA.

    "The bee helps to heal all thy internal and external maladies, and
    is the best little friend whom man possesses in this world."--More
    in Cotton's _Book of the Bee_, p. 138.


Since Hahnemann's successful attempt to develop the medicinal nature of
Aconite, no other discovery has been made in the domain of practical
medicine, as comprehensive and universally useful as the discovery of
the medicinal virtues of the poison of the bee. It is of the utmost
importance to the interests of humanity to become as intimately
acquainted with the efficacy of this poison as possible. It is the
object of these papers to contribute my mite to this work.

As soon as Dr. Hering had published the provings of the bee poison, in
his "American Provings," I at once submitted them to the test of
experience in an extensive practice. I prepared the drug which I used
for this purpose, by pouring half an ounce of alcohol on five living
bees, and shaking them during the space of eight days, three times
a-day, with one hundred vigorous strokes of the arm. From this
preparation, which I used as the mother-tincture, I obtained
attenuations up to the thirties centesimal scale. So far, the effects
which I have obtained with this preparation, have been uniformly
satisfactory. It has seemed to me that the lower potencies lose in power
as they are kept for a longer period; hence, I consider it safer to
prepare them fresh every year. As a general rule, I have found either
the third or the thirtieth potency, sufficient.

Day after day I have obtained more satisfactory results, and now I look
upon Apis mellifica as the greatest polychrest, next to Aconite, which
we possess.

The introduction of this poison to the medical profession, will be
looked upon as the most brilliant merit of one of the most deserving
apostles of hom[oe]opathy, and will secure immortality to the honored
name of Constantine Hering. The following statements will show how far
this faith of a grateful heart is founded upon facts:

_Apis mellifica is the most satisfactory remedy for acute hydrocephalus
of children._

The more acute and dangerous the attack, the more readily will it yield
to the action of Apis. Sudden convulsions, followed by general fever,
loss of consciousness, delirium, sopor while the child is lying in bed,
interrupted more or less by sudden cries; boring of the head into the
pillow, with copious sweat about the head, having the odor of musk;
inability to hold the head erect; squinting of one or both eyes;
dilatation of the pupils; gritting of the teeth; protrusion of the
tongue; desire to vomit; nausea, retching and vomiting; collapse of the
abdominal walls; scanty urine, which is sometimes milky; costiveness;
trembling of the limbs; occasional twitching of the limbs on one side of
the body, and apparent paralysis of those of the other side; painful
turning inwards of the big toes, extorting cries from the patient;
accelerated pulse, which soon becomes slower, irregular, intermittent
and rather hard; these symptoms inform us that life is in danger, the
more so the more numerous they are grouped together.

In comparing with these symptoms the following symptoms from Hering's
American Provings, Part I., 3d Num., p. 294: "40, 41, muttering during
sleep; muttering and delirium during sleep; 83, 84, he had lost all
consciousness of the things around him; he sank into a state of
insensibility; 140, 144, sense of weight and fulness in the fore part of
the head; heaviness and fulness in the vertex; dull pain in the occiput,
aggravated by shaking the head; pressure, fulness and heaviness in the
occiput; 170, her whole brain feels tired, as if gone to sleep;
tingling; she experiences the same sensation in both arms, especially in
the left, and from the left knee down to the foot; 175, 176, sensation
as if the head were too large; swelling of the head; 391, when biting
the teeth together, swallowing; after gaping or at other times, a sort
of gritting the teeth; only a single, involuntary jerk frequently
repeated; 501, nausea and vomiting; 506, nausea, as if one would vomit,
with fainting; 512, vomiting of the ingesta; 619, retention of stool;
640, retention of urine; 665, scanty and dark-colored urine; 980, 984,
985, trembling, convulsions, starting during sleep as if in affright;
1020, sudden weakness, compelling him to lie down; he lost all
recollection; 1032, great desire for sleep, he felt extremely drowsy."
If we compare these effects of Apis to the above-mentioned symptoms of
hydrocephalus, we shall find the hom[oe]opathicity of Apis to this
disease more than superficially indicated. If we consider, moreover,
that the known effects of Apis show that it possesses the power of
exciting inflammatory irritation and [oe]dematous swellings, we are
justified, by our law of similarity, in expecting curative results from
the use of Apis in all such diseases.

The experiments which I have instituted for the last four years, have
convinced me of the correctness of this observation. Whenever I had an
opportunity of giving Apis at the commencement of the diseases, it would
produce within twelve to twenty-four hours quiet sleep; general
perspiration, affording relief; the feverish and nervous symptoms,
together with the delirium, would disappear from hour to hour, and on
waking, the little patient's consciousness was lucid, the appetite good
and recovery fully established. This is a triumph of art which inspires
us with admiration for our science. Less surprising, but equally
certain, is the relief, if Apis is given after the disease has lasted
for some time. In such a case, the medicine first excites a combat
between the morbific force and the conservative reaction. The greater
the hostile force, the longer the struggle between momentary improvement
and aggravation of the symptoms; it may sometimes continue for one, two,
or three days. It is not until now, that a progressive and permanent
improvement sets in. The desire to vomit is gone; the twitching,
trembling, and the struggle, generally diminish from hour to hour;
consciousness returns; the squinting and the dilatation of the pupils
abate; gritting of the teeth and protrusion of the tongue cease; the
position and movements of the head and limbs become more natural; the
pulse becomes more regular; its slowness yields to a more normal
frequency; the feverish heat terminates in sweat which affords great
relief, and the retention of stool and urine is succeeded by a more
copious action of both the bowels and bladder. The natural appetite
returns; the reproductive process is restored; sleep is quiet and
refreshing, and recovery is perfectly established in an incredibly short
period. A cure of this kind generally requires five, seven, eleven, and
fourteen days. This result is so favorable, that those who have not
witnessed it, or who are too ignorant and egotistical to investigate the
facts, may reject it as incredible.

Such brilliant results are obtained by means of a single drop of Apis,
third attenuation. I mix a drop with seven tablespoonfuls of water, and
give a dessert-spoonful every hour, or every two or three hours; the
more acute the attack, the more frequently the dose is repeated; this
method generally suffices to effect a cure more or less rapidly. As long
as the improvement progresses satisfactorily, all we have to do is to
let the medicine act without interfering. If the improvement is
arrested, or the patient gets worse, which sometimes happens in the more
intense grades of this malady, the best course is to give a globule of
Apis 30, and to watch the result for some twenty-four hours. After the
lapse of this period the improvement will either have resumed its
course, or else it will continue unsatisfactory. In the latter case we
should give another dose of the above-mentioned solution of Apis 3. Not
unfrequently I have met with patients upon whom Apis acts too
powerfully, causing pains in the bowels, interminable diarrh[oe]a, of a
dysenteric character, extreme prostration and a sense of fainting. In
such cases the tumultuous action of Apis is mitigated, and the continued
use of this drug, rendered possible by giving Apis in alternation with
Aconite in water, every hour or two hours.

Except such cases, I have never been obliged to resort to other
accessory means.

_Apis is no less efficacious against the higher grades of ophthalmia._

It is particularly rheumatic, catarrhal, erysipelatous, and [oe]dematous
ophthalmia, which is most rapidly, easily, and safely cured by Apis, no
matter what part of the eye may be the seat of the disease.

The symptoms 188-307 distinctly point to the curative virtues of Apis in
ophthalmia: "Sensitiveness to light, with headache, redness of the eyes;
he keeps his eyes closed, light is intolerable, the eyes are painful and
feel sore and irritated if he uses them; weakness of sight, with feeling
of fullness in the eyes; twitching of the left eyeball; feeling of
heaviness in the eyelids and eyes; aching, sore-pressing, tensive,
shooting, boring, stinging, burning pains in and around the eyes, and
above the eyes in the forehead; redness of the eyes and lids; secretion
of mucus and agglutination of the lids; the lids are swollen, dark-red,
everted; the conjunctiva is reddened, full of dark blood-vessels which
gradually lose themselves in the cornea; the cornea is obscured, smoky,
showing a few little ulcers here and there; profuse lachrymation;
stinging itching in the left eye, in the lids and around the eye;
sensation of a quantity of mucus in the left eye; sensation of a foreign
little body in the eye; soreness of the canthi; styes; [oe]dema of the
lids; erysipelatous inflammation of the lids."

I have found the correctness of these observations uniformly confirmed
by the most satisfactory cures of such affections. I use the medicine in
the same manner as for acute hydrocephalus. In some cases I found the
eye so sensitive to the action of Apis, that an exceedingly violent
aggravation of the inflammatory symptoms ensued, which might have proved
dangerous to the preservation of such a delicate organ as the eye.
Inasmuch as it is impossible to determine beforehand the degree of
sensitiveness, I obviate all danger by exhibiting Apis in alternation
with Aconite in the manner indicated for hydrocephalus. By means of this
alternate exhibition of two drugs, we not only prevent every aggravating
primary effect, but we at the same time act in accordance with the
important law, that, in order to secure the effective and undisturbed
repetition of a drug, we have first to interrupt its action by some
appropriate intermediate remedy. All repetitions should cease as soon as
a general improvement sets in; if the medicine is continued beyond the
point where the organism is saturated with the drug, it acts as a
hostile agent, not as a curative remedy. This important point is known
by the fact, that the improvement which had already commenced, seems to
remain stationary; the patient experiences a distressing urging to
stool, a burning diarrh[oe]a sets in, and a disproportionate feeling of
malaise develops itself. Under these circumstances, a globule of Apis 30
will quiet the patient, and the action of the drug will achieve the cure
without any further difficulty, and without much loss of time, unless
psora, sycosis, syphilis, or vaccine-virus prevail in the organism, or
sulphur, iodine or mercury had been previously given in large doses. In
the presence of such complications Apis will prove ineffectual until
they have been removed by some specific antidote. After having made a
most careful diagnosis, a single dose of the highest potency of the
specific remedy be given, and be allowed to act as long as a trace of
improvement is still perceptible. As soon as the improvement ceases, or
an aggravation of the symptoms sets in, Apis is in its place and will
act most satisfactorily. We then give Apis 3 in water, as mentioned
above, with the most satisfactory success.

_Apis is the most appropriate remedy for inflammation of the tongue,
mouth, and throat._

The following symptoms may be looked upon as striking curative
indications: 378-380, 383, 384, 399, 400, 405, 406, 409, 410, 413, 419,
436, 437, 439, 443, 444, 449, 455, 458, 459, 463, 470, 471: "Burning of
the lips; the upper lip is swollen to such a degree that the inside
seems turned outside; swelling of the lips and tongue; swelling of the
upper lip, it becomes hot and red, almost brown; dark streaks along the
vermilion border, particularly on the upper lip, rough, cracked, peeling
off; violent pains spreading through the gums, the gums bleed readily;
the tongue feels as if burnt; tongue and palate are sore; raw feeling,
burning, blisters along the margin of the tongue, very painful,
stinging; at the tip of the tongue a row of small vesicles which cause a
pain as if sore and raw; dry tongue; the inner cheeks look red and
fiery, with painful sensitiveness; inflammation of the tongue;
inflammation and swelling of the palate; burning, stinging sensation in
the mouth and throat; pressure in the fauces as of a foreign body;
ptyalism; copious accumulation of a soapy mucus in the mouth and throat;
dryness and heat in the throat; inability to swallow a drop, with
swelling of the tongue; sensation of gnawing and contraction in the
throat, increasing after four hours so as to render deglutition
difficult; sensation of fulness, constriction and suffocation in the
throat; deglutition painful and impeded, stinging pains during
deglutition; swelling and redness of the tonsils, impeding deglutition;
angina faucium; chilliness followed by heat; violent pain in the
temples; redness and swelling of the tonsils; uvula and fauces, painful
and impeded deglutition, and stinging pains when attempting to
swallow."

The more frequently we make use of Apis in the treatment of these very
common forms of angina, and of the inflammation of the salivary glands,
which are so closely connected with the other parts of the throat, the
more we become convinced by the most striking success, that this drug is
by far the speediest, safest and easiest remedy which we possess for the
treatment of these exceedingly common and yet so very distressing
affections. Not only in common affections of this sort, but also in the
most acute and dangerous forms of angina faucium, will Apis be found
efficient; even where these affections are hereditary, or have become
habitual, and generally terminate in suppuration, Apis will still afford
help. In these affections likewise Apis acts most promptly and
efficiently, if given in alternation with Aconite, both remedies in the
third dilution, a few drops dissolved in twelve tablespoonfuls of water,
in alternate hourly doses. After taking a few doses, the patient begins
to feel relieved, enjoys a quiet sleep, and the resolution of the
inflammation takes place, accompanied by the breaking out of a general
perspiration. If there should be a natural tendency to suppuration, this
treatment will hasten it from hour to hour, and after the pus is
discharged, a cure will soon be accomplished. In the most inveterate
cases, which had been previously treated in a different manner, the same
curative process takes place gradually; first one outbreak of the
disease is hushed; next, if another portion of the throat becomes
inflamed, this inflammation is controlled, and this proceeding is
continued with an increasingly rapid success and a continued abatement
of all sufferings, until, finally, a perfect recovery is obtained, even
under these disadvantageous circumstances.

Apis is not sufficient to prevent the recurrence of such inflammatory
attacks; this object has to be accomplished by means of the appropriate
antidotal specific.

_Apis becomes an exceedingly useful remedy in consequence of the
specific power which it possesses over the whole internal mucous
membrane and its appendages._

It is particularly the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal