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. PREFACE. Every physician who has spent years of an active life in prescribing forlarge numbers of patients, is morally bound to publish his experience tothe world, provided he is satisfied, in his interior conscience, thatsuch a publication might be useful to the general interests of humanity. In offering the following essay to my readers, I simply desire to fulfilan obligation recognised as valid by the inner sense. This essaycontains every thing that an experience of forty years in theconscientious and philanthropic exercise of my profession has sanctionedand confirmed as truth. Nor have I adopted a single fact, suggested bymy own observation, as correct, without contrasting it with the mostapproved records of medicine. To every true friend of man, and moreparticularly to every physician who considers the business of healingdisease as the highest office of medical art, I offer this essay forfurther trial and examination. May the statements expressed in it eitherbe confirmed or else corrected and improved by those who excel in morethorough 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 ofAconite, no other discovery has been made in the domain of practicalmedicine, as comprehensive and universally useful as the discovery ofthe medicinal virtues of the poison of the bee. It is of the utmostimportance to the interests of humanity to become as intimatelyacquainted with the efficacy of this poison as possible. It is theobject of these papers to contribute my mite to this work. As soon as Dr. Hering had published the provings of the bee poison, inhis "American Provings, " I at once submitted them to the test ofexperience in an extensive practice. I prepared the drug which I usedfor this purpose, by pouring half an ounce of alcohol on five livingbees, and shaking them during the space of eight days, three timesa-day, with one hundred vigorous strokes of the arm. From thispreparation, which I used as the mother-tincture, I obtainedattenuations up to the thirties centesimal scale. So far, the effectswhich I have obtained with this preparation, have been uniformlysatisfactory. It has seemed to me that the lower potencies lose in poweras they are kept for a longer period; hence, I consider it safer toprepare them fresh every year. As a general rule, I have found eitherthe third or the thirtieth potency, sufficient. Day after day I have obtained more satisfactory results, and now I lookupon Apis mellifica as the greatest polychrest, next to Aconite, whichwe possess. The introduction of this poison to the medical profession, will belooked upon as the most brilliant merit of one of the most deservingapostles of homœopathy, and will secure immortality to the honored nameof Constantine Hering. The following statements will show how far thisfaith of a grateful heart is founded upon facts: _Apis mellifica is the most satisfactory remedy for acute hydrocephalusof children. _ The more acute and dangerous the attack, the more readily will it yieldto 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 thepillow, 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 thetongue; desire to vomit; nausea, retching and vomiting; collapse of theabdominal walls; scanty urine, which is sometimes milky; costiveness;trembling of the limbs; occasional twitching of the limbs on one side ofthe body, and apparent paralysis of those of the other side; painfulturning inwards of the big toes, extorting cries from the patient;accelerated pulse, which soon becomes slower, irregular, intermittentand rather hard; these symptoms inform us that life is in danger, themore so the more numerous they are grouped together. In comparing with these symptoms the following symptoms from Hering'sAmerican Provings, Part I. , 3d Num. , p. 294: "40, 41, muttering duringsleep; muttering and delirium during sleep; 83, 84, he had lost allconsciousness of the things around him; he sank into a state ofinsensibility; 140, 144, sense of weight and fulness in the fore part ofthe head; heaviness and fulness in the vertex; dull pain in the occiput, aggravated by shaking the head; pressure, fulness and heaviness in theocciput; 170, her whole brain feels tired, as if gone to sleep;tingling; she experiences the same sensation in both arms, especially inthe left, and from the left knee down to the foot; 175, 176, sensationas if the head were too large; swelling of the head; 391, when bitingthe teeth together, swallowing; after gaping or at other times, a sortof gritting the teeth; only a single, involuntary jerk frequentlyrepeated; 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 allrecollection; 1032, great desire for sleep, he felt extremely drowsy. "If we compare these effects of Apis to the above-mentioned symptoms ofhydrocephalus, we shall find the homœopathicity of Apis to this diseasemore than superficially indicated. If we consider, moreover, that theknown effects of Apis show that it possesses the power of excitinginflammatory irritation and œdematous swellings, we are justified, byour law of similarity, in expecting curative results from the use ofApis in all such diseases. The experiments which I have instituted for the last four years, haveconvinced me of the correctness of this observation. Whenever I had anopportunity of giving Apis at the commencement of the diseases, it wouldproduce within twelve to twenty-four hours quiet sleep; generalperspiration, affording relief; the feverish and nervous symptoms, together with the delirium, would disappear from hour to hour, and onwaking, the little patient's consciousness was lucid, the appetite goodand recovery fully established. This is a triumph of art which inspiresus with admiration for our science. Less surprising, but equallycertain, is the relief, if Apis is given after the disease has lastedfor some time. In such a case, the medicine first excites a combatbetween the morbific force and the conservative reaction. The greaterthe hostile force, the longer the struggle between momentary improvementand aggravation of the symptoms; it may sometimes continue for one, two, or three days. It is not until now, that a progressive and permanentimprovement 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 pupilsabate; gritting of the teeth and protrusion of the tongue cease; theposition and movements of the head and limbs become more natural; thepulse becomes more regular; its slowness yields to a more normalfrequency; the feverish heat terminates in sweat which affords greatrelief, and the retention of stool and urine is succeeded by a morecopious action of both the bowels and bladder. The natural appetitereturns; the reproductive process is restored; sleep is quiet andrefreshing, and recovery is perfectly established in an incredibly shortperiod. A cure of this kind generally requires five, seven, eleven, andfourteen days. This result is so favorable, that those who have notwitnessed it, or who are too ignorant and egotistical to investigate thefacts, 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, andgive a dessert-spoonful every hour, or every two or three hours; themore acute the attack, the more frequently the dose is repeated; thismethod generally suffices to effect a cure more or less rapidly. As longas the improvement progresses satisfactorily, all we have to do is tolet the medicine act without interfering. If the improvement isarrested, or the patient gets worse, which sometimes happens in the moreintense grades of this malady, the best course is to give a globule ofApis 30, and to watch the result for some twenty-four hours. After thelapse of this period the improvement will either have resumed itscourse, or else it will continue unsatisfactory. In the latter case weshould give another dose of the above-mentioned solution of Apis 3. Notunfrequently I have met with patients upon whom Apis acts toopowerfully, causing pains in the bowels, interminable diarrhœa, of adysenteric character, extreme prostration and a sense of fainting. Insuch cases the tumultuous action of Apis is mitigated, and the continueduse of this drug, rendered possible by giving Apis in alternation withAconite in water, every hour or two hours. Except such cases, I have never been obliged to resort to otheraccessory means. _Apis is no less efficacious against the higher grades of ophthalmia. _ It is particularly rheumatic, catarrhal, erysipelatous, and œdematousophthalmia, which is most rapidly, easily, and safely cured by Apis, nomatter what part of the eye may be the seat of the disease. The symptoms 188-307 distinctly point to the curative virtues of Apis inophthalmia: "Sensitiveness to light, with headache, redness of the eyes;he keeps his eyes closed, light is intolerable, the eyes are painful andfeel sore and irritated if he uses them; weakness of sight, with feelingof fullness in the eyes; twitching of the left eyeball; feeling ofheaviness in the eyelids and eyes; aching, sore-pressing, tensive, shooting, boring, stinging, burning pains in and around the eyes, andabove the eyes in the forehead; redness of the eyes and lids; secretionof mucus and agglutination of the lids; the lids are swollen, dark-red, everted; the conjunctiva is reddened, full of dark blood-vessels whichgradually 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 foreignlittle body in the eye; soreness of the canthi; styes; œdema of thelids; erysipelatous inflammation of the lids. " I have found the correctness of these observations uniformly confirmedby the most satisfactory cures of such affections. I use the medicine inthe same manner as for acute hydrocephalus. In some cases I found theeye so sensitive to the action of Apis, that an exceedingly violentaggravation of the inflammatory symptoms ensued, which might have proveddangerous to the preservation of such a delicate organ as the eye. Inasmuch as it is impossible to determine beforehand the degree ofsensitiveness, I obviate all danger by exhibiting Apis in alternationwith Aconite in the manner indicated for hydrocephalus. By means of thisalternate exhibition of two drugs, we not only prevent every aggravatingprimary effect, but we at the same time act in accordance with theimportant law, that, in order to secure the effective and undisturbedrepetition of a drug, we have first to interrupt its action by someappropriate intermediate remedy. All repetitions should cease as soon asa general improvement sets in; if the medicine is continued beyond thepoint where the organism is saturated with the drug, it acts as ahostile agent, not as a curative remedy. This important point is knownby the fact, that the improvement which had already commenced, seems toremain stationary; the patient experiences a distressing urging tostool, a burning diarrhœa sets in, and a disproportionate feeling ofmalaise develops itself. Under these circumstances, a globule of Apis 30will quiet the patient, and the action of the drug will achieve the curewithout any further difficulty, and without much loss of time, unlesspsora, sycosis, syphilis, or vaccine-virus prevail in the organism, orsulphur, iodine or mercury had been previously given in large doses. Inthe presence of such complications Apis will prove ineffectual untilthey have been removed by some specific antidote. After having made amost careful diagnosis, a single dose of the highest potency of thespecific remedy be given, and be allowed to act as long as a trace ofimprovement is still perceptible. As soon as the improvement ceases, oran aggravation of the symptoms sets in, Apis is in its place and willact most satisfactorily. We then give Apis 3 in water, as mentionedabove, 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 curativeindications: 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 ofthe lips; the upper lip is swollen to such a degree that the insideseems turned outside; swelling of the lips and tongue; swelling of theupper lip, it becomes hot and red, almost brown; dark streaks along thevermilion border, particularly on the upper lip, rough, cracked, peelingoff; 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 apain as if sore and raw; dry tongue; the inner cheeks look red andfiery, with painful sensitiveness; inflammation of the tongue;inflammation and swelling of the palate; burning, stinging sensation inthe 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, withswelling of the tongue; sensation of gnawing and contraction in thethroat, increasing after four hours so as to render deglutitiondifficult; sensation of fulness, constriction and suffocation in thethroat; deglutition painful and impeded, stinging pains duringdeglutition; swelling and redness of the tonsils, impeding deglutition;angina faucium; chilliness followed by heat; violent pain in thetemples; redness and swelling of the tonsils; uvula and fauces, painfuland impeded deglutition, and stinging pains when attempting toswallow. " The more frequently we make use of Apis in the treatment of these verycommon forms of angina, and of the inflammation of the salivary glands, which are so closely connected with the other parts of the throat, themore we become convinced by the most striking success, that this drug isby far the speediest, safest and easiest remedy which we possess for thetreatment of these exceedingly common and yet so very distressingaffections. Not only in common affections of this sort, but also in themost acute and dangerous forms of angina faucium, will Apis be foundefficient; even where these affections are hereditary, or have becomehabitual, and generally terminate in suppuration, Apis will still affordhelp. In these affections likewise Apis acts most promptly andefficiently, if given in alternation with Aconite, both remedies in thethird dilution, a few drops dissolved in twelve tablespoonfuls of water, in alternate hourly doses. After taking a few doses, the patient beginsto feel relieved, enjoys a quiet sleep, and the resolution of theinflammation takes place, accompanied by the breaking out of a generalperspiration. If there should be a natural tendency to suppuration, thistreatment will hasten it from hour to hour, and after the pus isdischarged, a cure will soon be accomplished. In the most inveteratecases, which had been previously treated in a different manner, the samecurative process takes place gradually; first one outbreak of thedisease is hushed; next, if another portion of the throat becomesinflamed, this inflammation is controlled, and this proceeding iscontinued with an increasingly rapid success and a continued abatementof all sufferings, until, finally, a perfect recovery is obtained, evenunder these disadvantageous circumstances. Apis is not sufficient to prevent the recurrence of such inflammatoryattacks; this object has to be accomplished by means of the appropriateantidotal specific. _Apis becomes an exceedingly useful remedy in consequence of thespecific power which it possesses over the whole internal mucousmembrane and its appendages. _ It is particularly the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal uponwhich Apis has a striking influence. It excites an inflammatoryirritation, which not only disturbs the secretion of mucus, but alsodisintegrates the intestinal juices so essential to the process ofsanguification, thus disqualifying the blood from properly contributingto the reproduction of the nervous tissue. By thus altering the bloodand nerves, these two principal vehicles of vitality, it develops agroup of symptoms which is exceedingly similar to our abdominal typhusthat seems to have become stationary among us for the last twenty years. This similarity, in its totality, results from the following symptomscontained in the "American Provings. " "398: troublesome pains in the gums. 400: the gums bleed readily. 402:bitterish taste in the back part of the tongue and in the throat. 405:tongue as if burnt. 406: tongue and palate feel sore. 411: a number ofvesicles and small, sore, somewhat red spots at the tip of the tongueand along the left margin of the tongue. 413: dry tongue, the innercheeks look red, fiery, are painfully sensitive. 416: burning from thetongue down the œsophagus, as far as the stomach, eructations every fouror five minutes, with flow of tasteless water in the mouth; eructationsbecame worse after drinking water, she almost felt as if choked. 420:swelling of the tongue, the tongue is dry, shining, yellowish. 421:tenacious saliva adhering to the tongue. 424: tongue dry and white. 427:feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat. 441: fetid breath, withgastritis. 445: quantity of thick, tenacious mucus deep in the throat, obliging him to hawk. 447: tenacious, frothy saliva. 450: dryness in thethroat, without thirst. 452: loathing, as if out of the throat. 459:sense of fulness, constriction and choking in the throat. 474: loss oftaste. 475: complete loss of appetite. 488: no thirst, with heat. 492:very thirsty when waking at night, after diarrhœa. 495: eructationstasting of white of eggs. 501: nausea and vomiting. 504: fainting sortof nausea from the short ribs across the whole abdomen. 512: vomiting ofthe ingesta. 513: vomiting of bile. 516: vomiting and diarrhœa. 517:nausea, vomiting of the ingesta, and diarrhœa; repeated vomiting, firstof bile, afterwards a thin, watery fluid, having a very bitter taste, with violent pains across the abdomen. 518 to 525: oppression, pressing, creeping, drawing and gnawing, pricking, soreness, heat and burning inthe stomach. 528: painful sensitiveness in the pit of the stomach, withburning, like heartburn, with bilious diarrhœa, rather greenish, andalmost painless. 530: violent pain and sensitiveness in the region ofthe stomach and epigastrium, with vomiting, coated tongue, fetid breath, costiveness, and sleep disturbed by muttering and dreams, with frequent, wiry pulse. 533: sense of numbness under the right ribs. 532: sense ofcompression, squeezing, bruising, under the ribs, worse on the leftside. 535: violent burning pains under the short ribs on both sides, worst and most permanent on the left side, _where the pain is felt forweeks, preventing sleep_. 543: rumbling in the abdomen, with violenturging to stool. 545: nausea in the abdomen, has to lie down. 546:weight in the abdomen. 547: dull pain in the bowels. 552: occasionalattacks of colic, with a feverish, tremulous sensation. 553: violent, cutting pains in the abdomen. 555: slowly pulsating, boring pain abovethe left crest of the ilium, relieved by eructations. 556: pain in theabdomen, from the hips to the umbilical region. 560: soreness andpressure in the lower abdomen. 563: _feeling of soreness, burning andnumbness below and on the side of the right hip, deep-seated_. 566: theinner abdomen feels sore and as if excoriated, painful when pressedupon. 567: feeling as if the bowels had been squeezed, with tenesmusduring stool. 576: fulness and sense of distension in the abdomen, as ifbloated. 589: frequent urging to stool, with pain in the anus on accountof the frequent pressing. 590: violent tenesmus. 593: several thin, yellow evacuations, accompanied by excessive prostration; the stools setin at every motion of the body, as if the anus were wide open. 598:copious discharges of dark brown, green and whitish excrements. 599:dysenteric stools. 608: blood and mucus with stool. 611 and 612: painfuland also painless diarrhœa, especially in the morning. 617: retention ofstool for one week. 646: disagreeable sensation in the bladder, withpressing downwards in the region of the sphincter, and frequent urging, so that he voids urine frequently in the day-time, and ten or twelvetimes at night; burning and cutting during urination. 668: the urine isdark colored. 730: hoarseness and distress of breathing. 733: roughnessand sensitiveness in the larynx. 738: violent cough, especially afterlying down and sleeping. 754: hurried and difficult breathing, with heatand headache. 803: sense of soreness, lameness, bruised and contusivefeeling in the chest. 812: trembling and pressure in the chest, withembarrassed breathing. 818: pulse scarcely perceptible. 822: pulseaccelerated. 833: swelling of the cervical glands on the injured side. 968: extreme sensitiveness of the whole body to contact, every hair ispainful when touched. 971: excessive nervousness. 979: generallassitude, with trembling. 994: in the afternoon he becomes extremelyrestless and exhausted. 1011: paroxysms of great weakness. 1021: suddenweakness, he had to lie down, and lost his senses. 1025: complete lossof recollection, with vomiting, desire for sleep and rest, slow beatingof the heart and scarcely perceptible pulse. 1032: excessive drowsiness. 1039: starting during sleep, as if in affright, with some cough. 1046:sleeplessness. 1047: restless sleep, frequent waking and constant_dreaming_. 1064: chattering during sleep (in the case of a child). 1081: chilly every afternoon at three or four o'clock, she feels ashivering, worse during warmth; chilly creepings across the back, thehands feel numb; an hour after, feverish heat, with rough cough, hotcheeks and hands, no thirst; these symptoms pass off gradually, but shefeels heavy and prostrated. 1089: chill after a heat of thirty-sixhours. 1090: sudden chilliness, afterwards heat and sweat. 1124:alternate sweat and dry skin. 1198: thick urticaria, itching a greatdeal (very soon). 1224: swelling and erysipelatous redness. 54: unableto concentrate his thoughts. 57: dulness of the head, it feelscompressed. 62: vertigo and weakness. 79: dizziness. " Whosoever compares the totality of these effects of Apis to the symptomsof the prevailing abdominal typhus, will admit that Apis is homœopathicto this disease. He will even admit that this homœopathicity of Apis toabdominal typhus extends to the minute particulars of the disease _intheir totality_. Even the course which Apis pursues, in developing itseffects in the organism, is similar to the progressive development oftyphus. Any one who has witnessed, as I have, the course which thisdisease pursues, will admit that mucous membrane of the alimentary canalis first affected by the disease, in the same manner as Apis affects it;that this irritation of the mucous membrane is followed by gastriccatarrhal symptoms, which are speedily succeeded by symptoms ofdisintegration of the animal fluids and typhoid phenomena; that thegastric irritation is generally characterized by boils, urticaria, erysipelas of the skin, and the nervous irritation by symptoms ofabdominal typhus; that the internal and external development of thedisease is determined by a striking sympathetic derangement of theorganic functions of the liver, and still more of the spleen, andlikewise by a more striking prominence of the intermittent type of thefever; and that all these varied disturbances finally culminate inabdominal typhus. Owing to this remarkable similarity, Apis will effect striking cures ofall these different derangements. If, after more or less distinctly felt premonitory symptoms--after asudden cold, excessive exertions, prostrating emotions or enjoyments--amore or less violent fever is developed, accompanied by dulness andpainfulness of the head, retching and vomiting, distention andsensitiveness of the pit of the stomach, and soon after of the wholeabdomen, with urging diarrhœa, pappy and foul taste in the mouth, lossof appetite and thirst, feeling of dryness in the mouth and throat, tongue sore, as if burnt and swollen, with antagonistic change ofsymptoms, suspicious and extraordinary prostration, and feeling offainting; a few spoonfuls of the above-mentioned solution of Apis 3, will afford such speedy relief, that it may seem incredible to those whohave not witnessed it. The nausea, the vomiting, the diarrhœa, and thepainfulness of the abdomen, disappear; quiet sleep sets in, with generalperspiration, which terminates the fever, and affords great relief;after waking, the patient is comforted by the internal sensation ofreturning health; a natural appetite is again felt, the strengthreturns, and in a few days the healthy look of the tongue and buccalcavity shows that the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels hasrecovered its normal quality. The longer help is deferred, the longertime the morbid process has had in making its inroads upon the system, the more frequently will it be necessary to repeat the medicine, until acure is achieved. The same good result is perceived, if the morbid process is accompaniedby furuncles, urticaria, erysipelas--the latter principally on the headand in the face, less frequently upon the extremities, and inclining toshift from one place to another. Such a combination of symptoms not onlyshows a higher degree of intensity of the disease, but also shows thatthe organism is still capable of battling against the internal disease, by compelling it to leave the interior tissue, and to develop itselfexternally. It is the first business of the physician to support theorganism in this tendency, and to guard the brain and bowels from everydestructive relapse. Apis, employed as above, accomplishes this resultmore speedily than any other drug. Of course, a few days are requiredfor this purpose, although the rules of using the drug and the course oftreatment are the same. The same observation applies to the not unfrequent complication withorganic disease of the spleen and consequent dropsy. Apis, used in thesame manner, effects, in as short a period as the intensity of thesymptoms will permit, a mitigation and gradual disappearance of thepainfulness of the spleen, restores the normal action of the spleen moreand more, and neutralises the tendency to dropsical effusion at the sametime as it expels the accumulated fluid by increasing the secretionsfrom the bladder and bowels, and the cutaneous exhalation. If the liver is organically diseased, Apis is no longer sufficient. Insuch a case, the action of the liver has first to be restored to itsnormal standard. In dropsical diseases, I have effected this result mostfrequently, for years past, by means of Carduus mariæ, less frequentlyby Quassia, still less frequently by Nux vomica, and only in a few casesby Chelidonium: according as one or the other of these agents seemedindicated by the epidemic character of the disease. In all non-malignantcases, if the medicine was permitted to act in time, the whole diseasewas often cut short by the use of these drugs, and the development oftyphoid symptoms prevented. Not, however, in all more inveterate cases, where the prevailing character of the disease, by its more penetratingaction upon the tissues, induced a slower and more threatening course ofdevelopment. As soon as the pains in the right hypochondrium haddisappeared, the bilious quality of the fæces had been restored, and theurine had become lighter colored, but the fever still continued, tongue, throat, pit of the stomach and abdomen had become more sensitive; thehead duller and tighter, and the prostration more overpowering. In sucha case, Apis, prepared as above, became indispensable, in order toremove all danger to life. Its curative action soon became manifest intwo different ways. If the reactive force of the organism was still sufficient, the medicinesucceeded very speedily in preventing the supervention of the typhoidstage, in changing the fever-type from a remittent or even continuous toan intermittent type, during which the convalescence of the patient, aided by a suitable diet, was more and more firmly established andgenerally completely secured after the lapse of a week. If the typhoid stage could not be prevented and set in with thefollowing symptoms: the patient lies on his bed in a state of apathy, with loss of recollection, sopor, muttering delirium, hardness ofhearing, inability to protrude the tongue or to articulate; dry, cracked, sore, blistered, ulcerated tongue; difficult deglutition;painful distention of the abdomen, which is sensitive to contact orpressure; retention of stool, or else frequent, painful, foul, bloody, involuntary diarrhœa; fermentous urine, which is sometimes dischargedinvoluntarily; the skin is at times and partially dry, burning, at timesand partially clammy, cool; trembling and twitching of the limbs; whitemiliaria on the chest and abdomen; extreme debility, with settlingtowards the foot-end of the bed; changing pulse, which is at times slow, at others accelerated, feeble, intermittent: in such a case Apisrequires more time to heal the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal;to restore the normal action of the bowels; to regulate the digestivefunctions; to procure quiet and refreshing sleep, and to graduallyeffect a complete restoration of health. If the mucous membrane of therespiratory organs was invaded by the morbid process, the cure wasnevertheless completed as soon as the mucous lining of the intestinalcanal was restored to its natural condition. So far, the only obstacle to a cure which I have witnessed, has beentuberculosis of the chest or abdominal viscera, or of both at the sametime, and still more the vaccine-virus; likewise a tendency to paralysisin persons who were otherwise morbidly affected. Tuberculosis has oftenbeen combated by a single dose of a high potence of Sulphur between thedoses of Apis, no Apis being given after the Sulphur, as long as thecourse of the typhoid symptoms would render it safe to postpone thismedicine. I have found it much more difficult to conquer thevaccine-poison, _which I have become satisfied by years of observation, constitutes the most universal and most powerful generator of the typhuswhich is prevailing in our age and which seems unwilling to leave us_. Tartar emetic proves in this, as in other cases, its antidotal poweragainst the vaccine-virus; but under no circumstances is more cautionrequired in the use of tartar emetic than in typhus, where thevaccine-virus seeks to develop its characteristic pustules with atendency inherent in each pustule to terminate in the destruction ofthe mucous membrane. It may seem hazardous to add to this combination ofdestructive forces another similarly-acting element; but a carefulconsideration of the circumstances of the case will justify such aproceeding, although death may be the inevitable result of the morbidprocess. Experience has satisfied me that the alternate use of tartaremetic and Apis, a drop of the third potency of each, every three, sixor twelve hours, according as the symptoms are more or less violent, or, in very sensitive organisms, in tablespoonful doses of a watery solutionof a drop, will accomplish all that can be expected; for these twodrugs, thus administered, seem to compensate or complete each other. Iam unable to say how far this proceeding requires to be modified inparticular cases; all I desire to do, is to submit this importantsubject to my colleagues for further inquiry and trial. If a tendency to paralysis prevails, the danger is less threatening, although equally momentous. In such cases I use Apis and Moschus inalternation, although I am unable to assert, on account of deficientexperience, that this treatment will always prove satisfactory. Suchcases hardly ever arise under homœopathic treatment; and if they come tous out of the hands of allœopathic practitioners, they generally proveincurable. If these three obstacles to a cure appear combined, I have never foundit possible to effect any thing. All that I have found it possible todo, has been to prevent such a dreadful combination by carefullyattending to my patients in previous diseases. Sometimes in typhus, the affection of the spleen shows itself again, even after recovery has fairly set in; the intermittent type againbreaks forth, and recovery finally takes place, as the intermissionsbecome more and more distinct and lengthened. As long as theintermittent type continues, Apis has to be given; the action of thespleen becomes more and more normal, the fever paroxysms become shorterand less marked, and the restoration of health is effected without anymore treatment than a single dose of Apis 30, one globule, which ispermitted to act until the patient is well. Observations of this kind, which I have made under the most diversifiedcircumstances, have taught me that Apis is _the most sovereign remedyfor all those morbid processes which we designate as_ INTERMITTENTFEVER. The following symptoms indicate the homœopathicity of Apis tointermittent fever: "1081: every afternoon about three or four o'clock she feels chilly, shivering, worse in warmth; a chilly creeping along the back, the handsseem dead; in about an hour she feels feverish and hot, with roughcough, hot hands and cheeks, without thirst; these symptoms pass offgradually, after which she feels heavy and prostrate. 1088: chillinessall over, recurring periodically, with an undulating sensation. 1089:chill after a heat of thirty-six hours. 1090: sudden chilliness, followed by heat and sweat. 499: loathing, with chilliness and coldnessof the limbs. 534: pains on the left side, below the last ribs. 535:violent burning pain below the short ribs, on both sides, worst and mostpermanent on the left side, where it continues for weeks, preventingsleep. 577: enlargement of the abdomen, with swelling of the feet, scanty urine. " The provings of Apis show that this drug affects every portion of thenervous system--the cerebral, spinal and ganglionic nerves--and theprocess of sanguification, in the same general and characteristic manneras is the case in fever and ague. In comparing the symptoms of Apis with those of any other known drug, there is no medicine that bears as close an affinity to fever and agueas Apis. Howsoever useful other remedies may have proved, in thetreatment of fever and ague, they are only homœopathic to isolatedconditions, in comparison with Apis. In practice, it was often foundvery difficult, even for the most experienced physician, to decide inwhich of these exceptional cases the specifically homœopathic agentshould have been employed. Sometimes no properly homœopathic remedycould be found, in which case the treatment had to be conducted in around-about way. All these difficulties have been effectually removed by Apis, and thetreatment of intermittent fever may henceforth be said to constitute oneof the most certain and positive achievements of the homœopathic domain. For the last three years, during which period I have experimented withApis, I have not come across a single case of intermittent fever thatdid not yield satisfactorily to Apis. I have treated a pretty fair shareof obstinate and complicated cases of this disease, and have, therefore, had an opportunity of testing the curative virtues of Apis in asatisfactory manner. Here are the results of my observations: Apis is the natural remedy for the pathological process which ischaracterized by periodical paroxysms of chill, heat and sweat; theother morbid symptoms being common to this process, as they are to allother diseases. All the symptoms which have hitherto been observed in intermittentfever, will be found, with striking similarity, among the provings ofApis. For a confirmation of this statement, we refer to Hering'sAmerican Provings, and to Bœnninghausen's Essay on Intermittent Fevers. In making use of Apis in every form of intermittent fever, we not onlyact in strict accordance with the homœopathic law generally, but wefulfil all the requirements of the individualizing method. Apis is theuniversal remedy in intermittent fevers, for which every homœopathicphysician has been longing, and which pure experiments, conductedaccording to the rules of homœopathy, have revealed to us;--anothershining light on the sublime path of the healing artist! The beneficent action of Apis, in intermittent fever, is still increasedby the fact that it prevents the supervention of typhus, disorganizations of the spleen, dropsy, china-cachexia. In using Apisfrom the commencement, all such consequences are avoided, and if theyshould have been induced by different treatment, Apis removes them asspeedily as possible. In all lighter cases, it is sufficient to give a drop of Apis 3, morningand evening, during the apyrexia, and to continue this treatment untilthe attacks cease; very often no other paroxysm sets in after the firstdose; there are scarcely ever more than two or three paroxysms. In a fewdays the cure is accomplished, provided the action of the medicine isnot disturbed. In more obstinate cases, which had been coming on for a longer period, or had been caused by more noxious influences, had lasted longer, hadinvaded the organism with more intensity, or where the paroxysms lastlonger and the intermissions are shorter, or where two paroxysms occurin succession, or the life of the organism is endangered by some causeor other, --the organism has to be saturated with the medicine in theshortest possible period, in order to ensure victory to the curativeagent. Under these circumstances, we prepare a solution of from two tofour drops of the third potency in twelve tablespoonfuls of water, shakeit well in a closed bottle, and give a tablespoonful of this solutionevery hour. If the case should be urgent, we may give a drop of Apis 3, on sugar, every three or six hours. This treatment is to be continueduntil the patient is decidedly better; after which the medicine shouldbe discontinued. If the improvement is not quite satisfactory, the lastdose is continued several times every twelve or twenty-four hours, afterwhich the proper effect will have been obtained. If the progressiveimprovement of the patient should be attended with distinct morbidsymptoms, it would be injurious to continue the repetition of the drug. Nevertheless, a globule of Apis 30 may sometimes hasten theconvalescence of the patient, and otherwise afford relief. Signs ofreaction, even if more or less violent, should not deceive one. If leftto themselves, they are often and speedily followed by a refreshingcalm, and cannot be interfered with, as an aggravation of the symptoms, without damaging the case. These are all the rules which I have so far been able to infer from myuse of Apis. Further experience will have to decide whether they applyto all periods, or only to the prevailing type of fever. I am unable to say whether Apis will prove effectual against epidemicmarsh-intermittents, and if so, how the use of it will have to bemodified. May it please those, who can shed light on this subject, tocommunicate their experience! Two other exceptions to Apis, as a universal febrifuge, have occurred tome in my practice: _The development of fever and ague in poisoned soil, and fever and ague complicated with China-cachexia. _ It is peculiar to intermittent fever to excite the morbid germs whichare slumbering in the organism. This is more particularly true inreference to psora. In proportion to universality of the psoric miasm, fever and ague will develop and complicate itself with psoricaffections; and it is such complications that give rise to theinveterate character of intermittents and their disorganizing tendency. In such cases, a cure cannot be effected without some suitableanti-psoric. During the prevailing fever, Natrum muriaticum has provedsuch an anti-psoric, provided it was used as follows: If the signs ofpsoric complication became visible at the outset, I gave a pellet ofNatrum mur. 30, and awaited the result until after the third paroxysm. If symptoms of improvement had become manifest, no other remedy wasgiven, and the improvement was permitted to progress from day to day. Ifthe signs of psoric complication were obscure at the beginning of theattack, Apis was at once given. If no improvement became visible afterthe third paroxysm, or if other symptoms developed themselves, this waslooked upon as a proof of the existence of psora, and Natrum mur. 30 wasgiven, and no other remedy, until after the third paroxysm. Either thedisease had ceased, or it required further treatment. In the lattercase, Apis 3 was continued in drop-doses, morning and evening, until thepatient was decidedly convalescent. No further medicine was given afterthis, and the Natrum mur. Was permitted to act undisturbed, without asingle repetition. Every such repetition is hurtful; it disturbs thecurative process, excites an excess of reaction in the organism, exhausts it, and develops artificial derangements, which often misleadthe judgment, and induce an uncalled-for and improper application ofremedial means. Such repetitions are unnecessary; any one who isacquainted with the action of Natrum mur. , will at once perceive thatthe psora-destroying effect of this agent had not been neutralized byApis. Recovery becomes more and more completely established, andsometimes terminates in the breaking out of a wide-spread, bright-looking eruption, resembling recent dry itch, and attended withthe peculiar itching which always exists in this disease. The completepeeling off of the epidermis shows the true cause of the disease. In afew cases, an itch-eruption of this kind proved contagious, andcommunicated itself to other persons in the family. A similar course of treatment was pursued, if some other anti-psoric hadto be resorted to, according as one or the other of the three miasmsseemed to require. _The thoroughness of this treatment of intermittent fevers is proved bythe fact, that no relapses ever took place, or that no secondarydiseases were ever developed. _ If these sequelæ were the consequences of an abuse of Cinchona, and thisChina-cachexia was the source of subsequent paroxysms of fever, I have, even in such cases, when nothing else would help, seen Apis cure boththe fever and the China-cachexia, in most cases which came under mytreatment. In the most inveterate cases, which had perhaps beenmismanaged in various ways, and where the reactive power of the organismseemed entirely prostrated, I found it necessary to resort to theemployment of a most penetrating agent, more particularly the 5000thpotency of Natrum muriaticum, which I have so far found the onlysufficiently powerful curative influence under the circumstances. Therules of administering this potency are the same as those for theexhibition of the 30th. Not only does Apis afford help in the affections which habitually andmost generally occur among us; it is likewise in curative rapport withthe TYPHOID-GASTRIC CONDITIONS WHICH DEVELOPE THEMSELVES DURING THE COURSEOF AN ERYSIPELATOUS OR EXANTHEMATOUS CUTANEOUS AFFECTION, MOREPARTICULARLY SCARLATINA, RUBEOLA, MEASLES AND URTICARIA. The use of Apis in erysipelas is indicated by: "Nos. 168, 169: greatanxiety in the head, with swelling of the face; inflammatory swellingand twitching so violent, that an apoplectic attack is dreaded. 175 to178: sensation as if the head were too large; swelling of the head;sensitiveness to contact on the vertex, forehead; burning, stingingabout the head. 292: erysipelatous inflammation of the eyelids. 295:after the most violent pains of the right eye, a bluish, red, whitishswelling of both eyes, which were closed in consequence. 297: swellingunder the eyes during erysipelas, as when stung by a bee. 316: redswelling of both ears, with a stinging and burning pain in the swelling, with redness of the face every evening. 356: erysipelas spreading acrossthe face, and proceeding from the eyes. 359: tension in the face, awakening her about one o'clock, the nose was swollen, so were the righteye and cheek, stinging pain when touching the part; under the righteye, and proceeding from the nose, red streaks spread across the cheek, until four o'clock; next day, after midnight, sudden swelling of theupper lip, with heat and burning redness, continuing until morning; onthe third night, sudden crawling over the right cheek, with stingingnear the nose, after which the cheek and upper lip swelled. 363: facered and hot, with burning and stinging pain, it swells so that he is nolonger recognized. 388: pimple in the vermilion border of the lower lip, which he scratches, after which an erysipelatous swelling arises, spreading rapidly over the chin and the lower jaw, and invading theanterior neck and the glands, so that he is unable to move the jaws, asduring trismus, or as if the ligaments of the jaws were inflamed; withconstant disposition to sleep, the sleep being interrupted by frightfuldreams. 706 to 707: swelling of the right half of the labia, withinflammation and violent pain, rapid, hard pulse, diarrhœa consisting ofyellow, greenish mucus, in the case of a girl of three years old;deeply-penetrating distress, commencing in the clitoris and spreading tothe vagina; the labia minora are swollen, they feel dry and hard, theyare covered with a crust; at the commencement urination is painful. 948:burning of the toes, and erysipelatous redness with heat at acircumscribed spot on the foot, the remainder of the foot being cold. 1167, 1168: acute pain and erysipelatous swelling, hard and white in thecentre; bright red, elevated, hard swelling of the place where he wasstung, and round about a chilly feeling. 1170-1173: red place where hewas stung, with swelling and red streaks along the fingers and arm; redstreaks along the lymphatic vessels, proceeding from the sting along themiddle finger and arm; inflammatory swelling, spreading all around. 1181: throbbing in the swelling. 1182: wide-spread cellularinflammation, terminating in resolution. 1224, 1225: swelling anderysipelatous redness; erysipelatous redness of the toes and feet. " If we add to these remarks, that Apis corresponds to gastric and typhoidconditions, as was shown before, with remarkable similarity of symptoms, we find, without doubt, that all known erysipelatous forms ofinflammation are covered by the pathogenetic effects of Apis. Hence wemay with propriety give Apis in these affections. Practical experiencehas abundantly confirmed these conclusions. For the last four years, Ihave cured readily, safely and easily all forms of erysipelas which havecome under my notice--œdematous, smooth, vesicular, light or darkcolored, seated or wandering, phlegmonous, recent or habituallyrecurring, of a light or inveterate character, repelled, amongindividuals of every disposition and age. I have never seen all kinds ofpain yield more readily; I have never seen the accompanying fever abatemore speedily; I have never arrested the further spread of erysipelas, nor effected a resolution of the inflammation of the cellular tissue, more certainly; nor, if the termination in suppuration was no longeravoidable, have I ever succeeded in effecting the formation of laudablepus, the spontaneous discharge of the pus, the radical healing of thesore without any scar--_how important is all this in erysipelatousinflammation of the mammæ_--with more certainty and thoroughness, thanby means of Apis! No remedy possesses equal powers in protectinginternal organs from the dangerous inroad of this disease. I effected all this without any other medicinal aid, or withoutresorting to an operation. Keeping quiet and dry, and in a uniformtemperature, is all that is required, in order to secure the fullcurative action of Apis. In this disease it is used in the same manneras we have indicated before. If the liver should be very much involvedin this disease, we effect a cure still more rapidly, by alternatingAconite with Apis, in case inflammation is present; Carduus mariæ, incase of simple inflammatory irritation, and Hepatin, if disorganizationshave already set in. In phlegmonous and suppurative habitual erysipelas, a cure is generally facilitated, if a dose of Sulphur 30 isinterpolated, in the manner which we have explained before, in order toneutralize the psoric taint which is here generally present. According to this experience, in conjunction with the symptoms 706, 707, I believe that Apis will prove a successful prophylactic and curativeagent in a disease of children, which terminates fatally in almost everycase. I mean erysipelas of new-born infants, which commences at thegenital organs, thence spreads over the skin, and terminates in theinduration and destruction of this organ. Until now, I have not had anopportunity of verifying the truth of this theoretical conclusion byactual experiments. Hence I content myself with offering thissuggestion for further practical trials. The American Provings likewise show that Apis may be of great use inscarlatina. "No. 349: redness of the face, as in scarlatina. 408 to 413: tongue verypainful, the burning and raw feeling increases; vesicles spring up alongthe margin of the tongue, the pains are accompanied by stitches; at thetip of the tongue, toward the left side, a row of small vesicles springup, some six or eight, which are very painful and sore; dryness of thetongue, red and fiery appearance of the inside of the cheeks, withpainful sensitiveness. 311: pains in the interior of the right ear. 413to 417: burning at the upper portion of the left ear; stitches under theleft ear, tension under and behind the ears; red swelling of both ears, with a stinging and burning pain in the swelling. 462 to 463: difficultyof swallowing, staging pains when swallowing. 466: burning in the faucesdown to the stomach. 470: difficulty of swallowing in consequence ofredness and swelling of the tonsils. 473: ulcers in the throat duringscarlet fever. 1236: scarlatina does not come out, in the place of whichthe throat becomes ulcerated. 1237: retrocession of scarlatina, violentfever, excessive heat, congestion of the head, reddened eyes, violentdelirium. 832: redness and swelling in front of the neck, swelling ofthe glands. 833: swelling of the cervical glands on the injured side. 836: tension on the right side of the nape of the neck, below and backof the ear. 897, 898: itching and burning of the dorsum of the hand andof the knuckles and first phalanges; cracking of the skin here andthere; itching and chapping of the hand and lower lip. " If we add to these symptoms the above enumerated cerebral symptoms, thetyphoid alteration of the internal mucous membrane of the wholealimentary canal and of the respiratory organs, the disorganizing andparalyzing action upon the blood and nerves, the inclination todropsical effusion, the affection of the cervical glands with tendencyto suppuration, the appearance of otorrhœa, --we have a group of symptomswhich resemble very accurately the prevailing type of epidemicscarlatina. I know, from abundant experience, that the homœopathic lawhas been brilliantly confirmed in this disease. Thanks to the curativepowers of Apis, scarlatina has ceased to be a scourge to childhood. Thedangers to which children were usually exposed in scarlatina, havedwindled down to one, which fortunately is a comparatively rarephenomenon. It is only where the scarlet-fever poison acts at the outsetwith so much intensity, that the brain becomes paralyzed at once, andthe disease must necessarily terminate fatally, that no remedy has asyet been discovered. In all other cases, unless some strange mishapshould interfere, the physician, who is familiar with Apis, need notfear any untoward results in his treatment of scarlatina. In all lighter cases, where the disease sets in less tumultuously, andruns a mild course, it is proper, as soon as the disease has fairlybroken out, to give a globule of Apis 30, and to watch the effects ofthis dose without interference. The immediate consequence of thisproceeding, is to bring the eruption out in a few hours, all over theskin, with abatement of the fever and general perspiration, after whichthe eruption runs its course in a few days, with a progressive feelingof convalescence, the epidermis peels off from the third to the fifthday, and, at the latest, to the seventh day, with cessation of thefever, so that the process of desquamation is generally terminatedwithin the next seven days, after _which the patient may be fairly saidto be convalescent, and the patient may be said to be absolutely freedfrom all danger of consecutive diseases_. The same result is obtained by nature in cases of mild scarlatina, without the interference of art. But the experience which I have had anopportunity of making during my long official employment asdistrict-physician, has convinced me that Nature accomplishes her endfar more easily, more speedily and satisfactorily, if assisted by art inaccordance with the law of homœopathy. The sequelæ especially arerendered less dangerous by this means. But if the disease sets in with a considerable degree of intensity atthe very outset, and the fever continues without abatement, it isadvisable to keep up a medicinal impression by repeating the dose. Tothis end we dissolve a globule of Apis 30, in seven dessert-spoonfuls ofwater, by shaking the solution vigorously in a corked vial, and giving adessert-spoonful every three, six, or twelve hours as the case mayrequire. In all ordinary cases a single solution of this kind sufficedto subdue the fever and to secure a favorable termination of thedisease. The struggle between disease and medicine assumes a far different form, if the morbific poison has penetrated the organism more deeply; if aprocess of disorganization has already developed itself in theintestinal mucous membrane, and if the alteration of the sanguineousfluid, which is an inherent accompaniment of such a disorganizingprocess, has depressed the nervous activity to such a degree thattyphus, or paralysis of the brain or lungs seems unavoidable, as may beinferred from the bright-red tongue, which is thickly studded witheruptive vesicles, and speedily becomes excoriated, fissured and coveredwith aphthæ; by a copious discharge of thick, white, bloody and fetidmucus from the nose; by the swelling and induration of the parotidglands, increasing difficulty of deglutition; sensitiveness of theabdomen to pressure; badly-colored, slimy, bloody diarrhœa; scantyemissions of turbid, red, painful urine; accelerated and laboredbreathing; loss of consciousness; delirium; sopor; convulsions;trembling of the limbs; appearance as if the patient were lying in hisbed in a state of fainting; the skin is at times burning, hot and dry;at others it feels like parchment, cooler; at others again, hot and cooltogether in spots; the fever increases with changing pulse, and is moreconstant; in short, all the symptoms, although developing themselvesless rapidly, show that a fatal termination becomes more and moreprobable. In such a case it is above all things necessary to saturatethe organism with Apis. If there is much fever, this result is bestaccomplished by means of alternate doses of Aconite and Apis, a fewdrops of the third potency, shaken together with twelve tablespoonfulsof water, each drug by itself, the dose to be repeated every hour; andif the temperature is rather depressed, by giving Apis without theAconite, a tablespoonful every hour or two hours. In favorable cases thefever becomes more remittent within one to three days; a moderate andpleasant perspiration breaks out all over the skin; the sleep becomescalm and natural, and the typhoid symptoms abate. If this change takesplace, it is proper to exhibit Apis in a more dynamic form, in order toassimilate it more harmoniously to the newly awakened reactive power ofthe organism. To this end we dissolve a few globules of Apis 30 in sevendessert-spoonfuls of water, giving a dessert-spoonful morning andevening, and we continue this treatment, until the symptoms of typhoidangina have gradually abated, the tongue has been healed, the normaldesire for food has returned, and the digestive functions go onregularly; after which the natural reaction of the organism, assisted bycareful diet, will be found sufficient to complete the cure. If noimprovement sets in after Apis has been used for three days, we may restassured that a psoric miasm is in the way of a cure, which requires tobe combated with some anti-psoric remedy. I have generally found Kalicarbonicum efficient, of which I gave one globule thirty on the fourthday of the treatment, permitting it to act uninterruptedly from one tothree days, according as the disease was more or less acute, after whichI again exhibited Apis in the manner previously indicated. In this way Isucceeded in developing the curative powers of Apis, so that in a fewdays a gradual improvement, however slight, became perceptible to thecareful observer. As soon as the improvement is well marked, allrepetition of the medicine should cease, and the natural reaction of theorganism should be permitted to complete the cure. Any one who isacquainted with the action of the Kali, must know that it continueswithout being interrupted by Apis. An invaluable blessing of Nature! This proceeding is crowned with the desired results; the convalescenceis shorter and easier, and there is less danger of serious sequelæ, which, according to all experience, are so common in complicated casesof scarlatina, otorrhœa and suppuration of the parotid glands aregenerally avoided under this treatment without any other aid, or, if itis impossible to avert such changes, they generally come to a speedy andsafe end. This treatment likewise keeps off dropsy and its dangers. In cases where the secretion of _black urine_ shows that the liver isdeeply involved in the disease, Apis is powerless. These are the onlyexceptions to the curative power of this drug. Here we are told by ourlaw of cure, that the sphere of Lachesis commences. We give one or twoglobules of Lachesis 30 in seven dessert-spoonfuls of water, adessert-spoonful every twelve hours, and in acute cases every threehours; and the good effects of the medicine must seem miraculous to onewho is not accustomed to this mode of treating diseases. Already in afew hours the patient becomes tranquil, showing that the process ofdisorganization has been arrested; the improvement continues from hourto hour; the sleep becomes more tranquil; the cutaneous secretions, andthose of the bowels and kidneys, become more active; after the lapse ofone, or at most two days, the urine begins to look clearer andlighter-colored, and in about three days a return of the natural colorof the urine shows that the functions of the liver are restored to theirnormal standard; the patient is able to do without any further medicaltreatment, and the natural reaction of the vital forces will be foundsufficient to effect a cure. If I have not mentioned the affections of the kidneys, which may bepresent in this disease, it is because I have become satisfied by yearsof experience, that they constitute secondary affections in scarlatina, and that we should commit a great error if we would draw conclusionsregarding this point from post-mortem phenomena. Nobody who has observed the resemblance, at any rate, during the presentepidemic, between RUBEOLA and scarlet-fever, will deny that the remarks which we have offeredconcerning this latter disease, likewise apply to rubeola. In MEASLES, likewise, Apis will prove a curative agent. In the American Provings, Apis is indicated in this disease by thefollowing symptoms: "No. 1103, heat all over; the face is red as inscarlatina; eruption like measles; cough and difficult respiration as incroup; muttering delirium; 1211, superficial eruptions over the wholebody, resembling measles, with great heat and a reddish-bluecircumscribed flush on the cheeks; 1218, measle-shaped eruption. " If we add to these symptoms the peculiarity inherent in Apis, to causecatarrhal irritations of the eyes, such as occur during measles, we havea right to infer that Apis will prove a valuable remedial agent inmeasles. Although common mild measles do not require any medicinal treatment, andgenerally get well without any prejudice to the general health;nevertheless, cases occur where intense ophthalmia, a violent andracking cough, and the phenomena which appertain to it; an intenseirritation of the internal mucous membrane; diarrhœa; dangerousprostration of strength; marked stupefaction and various nervousphenomena render the interference of art desirable. In all such cases, Ihave seen good effects from the use of Apis, which differed not onlyfrom the regular course of the disease, but likewise from the effectswhich have been witnessed under the operation of other medicines. Inordinary cases, and without treatment, it takes three, five, seven andeleven days, before the eyes get well again; but under the use of Apis, the eyes improve so decidedly in from one to three days, that the eyesdo not require any further treatment; and that even troublesome sequelæ, such as photophobia; styes which come and go; troublesome lachrymation;continual redness; swelling and blennorrhœa of the lids; fistulælachrymalis, etc. , need not be apprehended. If Apis has had a chance to exercise its curative action in a case ofmeasles, we hear nothing of the troublesome, and often so wearing andracking cough, which so often prevails in measles, and the continuanceof which is accompanied by an increased irritation and swelling of therespiratory mucous membrane and an increasing alteration of itssecretion, which recurs in paroxysms, assumes a suspicious sound, showsa tendency to croup and to the development of tuberculosis, and finallydegenerates in whooping-cough, so that epidemic measles andwhooping-cough often go hand in hand. After Apis, the cough speedilybegins to become looser and milder, to loose its dubious character, andto gradually disappear without leaving a trace behind. If these resultsshould be confirmed by further experience, we would have attainedadditional means of preventing the supervention of whooping-cough inmeasles; a triumph of art and science which should elicit our warmestgratitude. Any one who knows, how malignant measles, unassisted by art, areaccompanied by deep-seated irritation of the mucous membrane of thestomach and bowels; how they lead to diarrhœa; to sopor; how theythreaten life by long-lasting and troublesome putrid and typhoid fevers;and how, if they do not terminate fatally, they result in slowconvalescence, and sometimes in chronic maladies for life, will admit, on seeing the diarrhœa cease; on beholding the quiet sleep whichpatients enjoy; the pleasant and general perspiration; the return ofappetite; the increase of strength, and the complete disappearance ofall putrid and typhoid symptoms, that Apis has indeed triumphed over thedisease. The following simple proceeding will secure such results: As soon as thefever has commenced, we prepare the above-mentioned solution of Aconite, of which we give a small spoonful every hour. If, after using theAconite, the eruption breaks out and the fever abates, no furthermedication is necessary. If fever and eruption should require furtheraid, Apis is to be given, one or two globules of thirtieth potency inseven dessert-spoonfuls of water, well shaken, a dessert-spoonfulmorning and evening; or, if the disease is very acute, every threehours, which treatment is to be continued until an improvement sets in, after which the natural reaction of the organism will terminate thecure. Sequelæ seldom take place after this kind of treatment; this isundoubtedly an additional recommendation for the use of Apis. Until thisday I have never seen a secondary disease resulting from measles. Nevertheless, such sequelæ will undoubtedly occur, for it ischaracteristic of the measle-miasm, to rouse latent psoric, sycosic, syphilitic and vaccinine taints, which afterwards require a specificanti-psoric treatment. Nevertheless, sequelæ will certainly occur lessfrequently after the use of Apis, for which we ought to be thankful. In URTICARIA AND PEMPHIGUS Apis will likewise afford speedy and certain help. Many symptoms in the American Provings confirm this statement. Moreparticularly 1198 to 1210, and 1232 to 35: "very soon thick nettle-rashover the whole body, itching a good deal, passing off after sleepingsoundly; violent inflammation and pressure over the whole body; frictionbrought out small white spots resembling musquito-bites; suddenly anindescribable stinging sensation over the whole body, with white and redspots in the palms of the hands, on the arms and feet; her Whole bodywas covered with itching and burning swollen streaks, after which theother troubles disappeared; swelling of the face and body; the parts arecovered with a sort of blotches somewhat paler than the ordinary colorof the skin; eruption over the whole body resembling nettle-rash, withitching and burning; nettle-rash in many cases; spots on the nape of theneck and forehead, resembling nettle-rash under the skin; consequencesof repelled urticaria; whitish, violently itching swellings of the skin, on the head and nape of the neck, like nettle-rash; after the rashdisappeared, the whole of the right side was paralyzed, with violentdelirium even unto rage; after taking Apis the eruption appeared inabundance, and the delirium abated. " These provings have been abundantly confirmed by my own experience. Theuse of Apis in these eruptions has been followed in my hands by the mostsatisfactory results; and I feel justified in recommending Apis as amost efficient remedy in these diseases, which are still wrapt in a gooddeal of obscurity. An additional source of satisfaction to have obtainedmore means of relieving human suffering. The experienced Neuman writes, in his Special Therapeutics, 2d Edit. , Vol. I. , Section 2, p. 681, abouturticaria: "Howsoever unimportant a single eruption of urticaria may be, it becomes disagreeable and troublesome by its constant repetition, which is not dangerous, but exceedingly disturbing. It would bedesirable to be acquainted with a safe method of curing this eruption, but so far, it has been sought for in vain. " The same physician, speaking of pemphigus, writes in the same place, that its etiology, prognosis and treatment, are still very dubious; that it leads toextensive chronic sufferings, and often terminates fatally; and that nospecific remedy is known for this disease. The more frequentopportunities we have of observing both these diseases in differentindividuals, the more frequently we observe them in conjunction withserious chronic maladies characterized by some specific chronic miasm, or in conjunction with the most penetrating and disturbing emotions, such as fright and its consequences; the more frequently we observe thesudden appearance and disappearance of such pustules, alternating withcorresponding improvements or exacerbations in the internal organism, where we have to look on utterly powerless, as it were, the more uneasydo we feel at the mysterious nature of this malady, which, during theperiod of organic vigor, seems to be a sort of trifling derangement, somewhat like urticaria, but which, as the vital energies becomeprostrated by age, becomes more and more searching and tormenting, breaks forth again and again, exhausting the vital juices and leadingirresistibly to a fatal termination; a result which is particularly aptto take place during old age, although I have likewise observed it, butrarely, among new-born infants. These developments lead us to suspect that urticaria and pemphigus areidentical in essence; this fact is richly substantiated by thehomœopathic law which furnishes identical means of cure for either ofthese affections. In either case, if the vital forces are prostrated, and the sensitiveness of the organic reaction is considerable, onepellet of Apis 30, and, if there is considerable resistance to overcome, two pellets shaken with six dessert-spoonfuls of water, a spoonful nightand morning, is all that should be done, after which, all furthertreatment should be discontinued as long as the improvement continues orthe skin remains clear from all eruptions. If the improvement cease orthe eruption should reappear, we have in the first place to examinewhether the improvement will not speedily resume its course, or whetherthe eruption does not show itself more feebly than before, or if thecure is not evidenced by some other favorable change. In the former casethe medicine should be permitted to act still further; in the lattercase, another dose of Apis 30 should be given, after which the resulthas to be carefully watched. In all benign cases, more particularly ifno other means of treatment had been resorted to before, this managementwill suffice. If this should not be the case, if the eruption shouldappear again, we may rest assured that a psoric miasm lurks in theorganism, and that an anti-psoric treatment has to be resorted to. Thebest anti-psoric under these circumstances, is Sulphur 30, one pellet, provided this drug has not yet been abused; or Causticum 30, one pellet, if such an abuse has taken place. Syphilis may likewise complicate thedisease, in which case Mercurius 30, one pellet, may be given; or, ifMercury had been previously taken in excessive doses, Mercurius 6000, one globule. After one or the other of these remedies, the symptoms should becarefully observed without doing anything else, with a view ofinstituting whatever treatment may afterwards be necessary, we wind upthe treatment with another dose of Apis 30, one pellet, after which, theorganic power is permitted to complete the cure. The result is, that themost difficult and complicated cases yield perfectly to such treatment, which is based upon the strictest scientific principles. FURUNCLES AND CARBUNCLES are likewise cured by Apis in the speediest and easiest manner. We find the following symptomatic indications in the American Provings:"682, painful pimple, suppurating in the middle, with red areola;painful like a boil, in the hairy region on the left side above the ospubis, continuing painful for several days; 1196, furuncles withstinging pains; 844, 845, violent, stinging, burning pain at a smallspot on the left side, in the lower region of the nape of the neck; alsoon the back part of the head; swelling at the nape of the neck, so thatthe head is pressed forward towards the chest; 1222, dark bluish-redpainful swellings, with general malaise; 1167, acute pain anderysipelatous swelling, very hard and pale in the centre. " Apis has been a popular remedy for boils from time immemorial; thepeople have been in the habit of covering boils with honey, moreparticularly honey in which a bee had perished. Apis, homœopathically prepared, is better adapted to such an end thanhoney. A few drops of Apis 3, shaken with twelve tablespoonfuls ofwater, a tablespoonful of this solution every three hours, generallyrelieves the pain in a short period, promotes suppuration, effects thedischarge of the decayed cellular tissue, and a speedy cure of thefuruncle. If furuncles incline to become carbunculous, the ichorous matter isspeedily changed to good pus, and all danger is averted. In a case of carbuncle the gangrenous disorganization of the skin andcellular tissue becomes very soon confined to a small spot; the deadparts are separated from the living tissues; the fever is hushed; thedisorganizations which it threatens are averted; a healthy suppurationis established throughout the gangrenous part, detaching and removingall decayed matter, and replacing the loss of substance by newgranulations until the sore becomes cicatrized in such a hardlyperceptible manner, that any one who is acquainted with the ravages ofthis disease, and is in the habit of seeing deep and disfiguringcicatrizes, even in the most successful cases, is disposed to deny thefact that such an intensely disorganizing process has been going on inthis instance. No other remedial means are required, much less asurgical operation. Inasmuch as carbuncle is generally preceded for a longer period by adeep-seated feeling of illness in the organism, showing that the psoricmiasm pervades the tissues, it behooves us, in order to secure all thebetter a favorable result, to give a dose of highly-potentized Sulphurat the very outset of the disease. After having used the first portionof Apis, a globule of Sulphur 30 or 6000 may be interposed, the formerin all cases where no Sulphur had been used, and the latter in casesSulphur had been used in large doses. We permit such a dose to act fortwenty-four hours, after which Apis is resumed, and continued accordingto the above stated rule. Sulphur should likewise be given in all cases where the furunclesreappear at different periods. Such a reappearance of the eruption, after it had once been cured by Apis, shows that a psoric taint pervadesthe organism which it is absolutely necessary to meet with specificcounter-acting remedies. The more frequently we meet such difficult complications, and see withour own eyes their successful treatment, the more we learn to appreciatethe fact, _that Apis cures to a certainty the most dangerous affectionsof this kind, and that the anti-psoric remedy corrects at the same timethe primary degeneration of the tissues, without either interfering withthe operations of the other drug, on the contrary, by assisting eachother_. In PANARITIA Apis proves the same invaluable remedy. Genuine panaritia only spring up in psoric ground, and in regard toextent and intensity of development, depend altogether upon the existingpsoric taint. Hence it is indispensable to extinguish this taint byappropriate remedies. This is most effectually accomplished by at oncegiving Sulphur, the most powerful of our anti-psorics. Sulphur seems toattack the evil at its very foundation, and we feel perfectly satisfiedwith its action, except that we would like to hasten the course of thedisease still more, in order to abbreviate the tortures inherent inthis malady. This result is most certainly accomplished by means ofApis. If panaritia are the result of excessive doses of Sulphur, Apis meetsour case perfectly. In hundreds of cases panaritia spring up and willcontinue to spring up from such a source, as long as the world continuesto live in darkness, and to reject the rays of truth which the genius ofHahnemann has sent forth among the benighted understandings of hisfellow beings. Notwithstanding Hahnemann's teachings concerning themedicinal power of Sulphur, which the world has now been in possessionof for years, and which the most thoughtful minds have accepted as atruth, the true friend of man has still to weep over the quantities ofSulphur which all apothecaries sell to any one at his option;hæmorrhoidal patients continue to swallow Sulphur from day to day;almost every body, from the child up to the old man, who is affectedwith catarrh, swallows the so-termed pulmonary powders which containSulphur, and of which relief is expected; whole legions repair everyyear to the Sulphur Springs; young and old use sulphur-baths at home;all over the world, the itch, which is a very common disease, is removedby means of a sulphur ointment, &c. One of the evil consequences of thisignorance, which particularly oppresses the laboring class, is theartificial development of panaritia; the more frequently these occur, the more necessary it is to employ speedy and safe means for theirextermination. In such a case we can no longer depend upon Sulphur, ofwhich we cannot possibly know how far it has already poisoned theorganism, and to what extent it may still be able to rouse a reaction;in which case, even those who know, may be led to make dangerousmistakes. In all such cases Apis is of the best use to us; it is evensufficient to arrest the disorganizing process, and to bring about asatisfactorily progressing cure. The curative indications contained in the "American Provings, " have beenconfirmed by my own experience. We read in Nos. 903-911, "the phalangealbones are painful; burning jerking, like a stitching, contractingsensation, in the right numb, from without inwards; drawing painsreaching the extremities of the fingers; distinct feeling of numbness inthe fingers, especially in the tips, around the roots of the nails, withsensation as if the nails were loose, and as if they could be shakenoff; burning in the tips of fingers, as from fire; fine burning stingingin the tips of the fingers; burning around a hang-nail, on the outsideof the fourth finger of the right hand, with pain internally, withoutredness and without aggravation from pressure, with continual burning inthe tip; swelling of the fingers, which remained painful for severaldays; 915, blister at the tip of the right index, discharging a bloodyichor when opened, and afterwards a milky pus, with violent burning, throbbing, and gnawing pains, continuing to spread for two days. " From all this we deduce the highly important practical rule: In a caseof whitlow, first ascertain whether and how far Sulphur has been abusedby the patient. Unfortunately the non-abuse of Sulphur is an exceptionto the rule, whereas the abuse of Sulphur is quite common even in ourage. Would that in this respect the ancient darkness might yield to thenew light. In case Sulphur had been abused by the patient, we mix a few drops ofApis 3 in twelve tablespoonfuls of water, giving a tablespoonful everyhour, or every two or three hours, according as the pains are more orless violent. This treatment has to be continued until the pains cease. They cease either because the inflammation has been dispersed, and themorbid process is terminated, or else a healthy suppuration has been setup, so that the swelling will discharge of itself, and a cure will beeffected as speedily as the nature of the panaritium will admit. Ineither case the medicine need not be repeated, and the organic reactionwill be sufficient to complete a cure without the interference ofsurgery. A simple bread and milk poultice may be used as soothingpalliative, especially if the external skin is of a firm, hard texture. Resolution may be depended upon in every case, where Apis has beenresorted to in time. A healthy suppuration will always set in after theexhibition of Apis, provided Sulphur or a psoric taint do not gain theascendancy. If the Sulphur miasm gains the ascendancy, there will be nomarked improvement during the first days of the treatment. In such acase we have at once to resort to a very high potency of Sulphur. Asingle globule of Sulphur 6000 would frequently ameliorate the worstaspect of the case as by a miracle, after which a few more doses of Apis3, a drop morning and evening, would so improve the symptoms, as torender all further medication unnecessary. If the psoric miasm should be the cause of the retarded improvement, asmay easily be determined by the predisposing circumstances of the case, and if no Sulphur should have been administered previously, it isexpedient to discontinue the use of Apis, and to at once exhibit aglobule of Sulphur 30, which may be allowed to act for twenty-fourhours, after which Apis is to be resumed in the same manner, until acessation of the pain manifests the cure of the disease. These explanations likewise point out the true course to be pursued, incase we should at the outset find that a whitlow owes its existence tothe psoric miasm. Ever since homœopathy has enabled us to treat this dreaded affectionwith positive and specific remedies in a most satisfactory manner, thehorrible pains which characterize this trouble, and the mutilations towhich it so frequently leads, only exist in quarters where egotism, thelove of lucre and the absence of all conscientiousness preventsphysicians from inquiring into the merits of our superior mode oftreatment. Is not this unpardonably wicked? SPONTANEOUS LIMPING is another affection which we cure with Apis. This disease which causes so much distress in life, is likewise, in itsessential nature, an outbirth of psora, and, as regards its localcharacter and its effects upon the constitution of the patient, it seemsto be characterized by the same inflammatory and suppurative process aswhitlow, and be endowed with a similar tendency to organic destruction. In the American Provings, symptom 917, "Painful soreness in the lefthip-joint, immediately after taking a dose of Apis 2, afterwardsdebility, unsteadiness, trembling in this joint, " is the only symptomthat seems to indicate the curative power of Apis in this distressingmalady. What experienced physician has not often seen the hip show suchsymptoms of disease, particularly after violent frights and anguish? Whohas not seen blows on the back and nates, by way of punishment, attendedwith such consequences? Who has not seen coxarthrocace develope itselfduring the course of a severe cerebral disease, scarlatina or typhus, where the patient, on suddenly awakening to consciousness from a stateof stupor, is made sensitive of the presence of this insidious disease, perhaps already fully developed? Since I have used Apis, I have neverhad to deplore such saddening results. According to my observation, we may regard Apis as a specific remedy forspontaneous limping; every new trial confirms me in this statement. Apismay be depended upon as a capital remedy in every stage of this disease, as long as the psoric miasm is kept in the background; but as soon asthe psoric taint is fully developed, a suitable anti-psoric has to begiven in alternation with Apis. My experience has led me to prefer Kalicarbonicum to all other anti-psoric remedies in this disease. Butinasmuch as the keenest observer may overlook the right moment when thepsoric poison begins to operate, it is well to forestall the enemy atthe very commencement, which may be done with the more propriety, themore certainly we know that these two remedies, Apis and theanti-psoric, not only not counteract, but mutually support each otherfrom the beginning to the end of the treatment. After many experiments, I have hit upon the following course as the most proper: If the limping, as is often the case in the severest forms of thedisease, sets in gradually, almost imperceptibly and without much pain, I give at once a globule of Kali carbonicum 30. As a general rule, thisone dose is sufficient to arrest the further development of the disease, and to award all danger so completely, that one, who is unacquaintedwith the nature of the malady, feels disposed to assert that it neverexisted. But if the pains continue, and are accompanied with fever, Iresort to Apis 3, after Kali had been allowed to act for a day or two, mixing a drop in twelve tablespoonfuls of water, and giving a dose everyhour, or every two or three hours, according as the pains come on moreor less frequently. This treatment is continued until the patient isquieted, after which the two remedies are permitted to act without anyfurther repetition of the medicine. If the inflammation of the joint sets in suddenly and with a violentfever, as is often the case after violent commotions, castigations, etc. , we prepare a solution of Aconite in the same manner as the Apis, and give these two medicines in alternate tablespoonful doses everyhour. After these two solutions are finished, and the first assault ofthe disease has been controlled, we give a globule of Kali 30, andpermit it to act for twenty-four hours. After this period we again giveApis every hour, two or three hours, as above, until the pains cease, after which Kali is allowed to act until the disease is entirely cured. If suppuration and caries of the joint have already set in, no matterwhether the pus has found an outlet in the region of the joint itself, or burrows down the thigh to find an outlet somewhere else, Kali is nolonger sufficient, Silicea has to be exhibited; it is more homœopathicto caries than other anti-psorics. We give a globule of Silicea 30, andallow it to act for two or three days, after which a drop of Apis 3, isrepeated morning and night, until the pains--which may require a morefrequent exhibition of the drug--cease, and a healthy pus is secreted. After this change is accomplished, Silicea is sufficient to complete thehealing of the osseous disorganization, and should be left undisturbedto the end of the treatment. I have found this simple proceeding so perfectly efficient in thisdreadful malady that the fever was speedily controlled, and renderedharmless, the inflammation was scattered without leaving a trace behind, the secretion ichor was transformed into that of healthy pus, and thedisorganization of the joint was prevented; the limb, even after it hadbecome elongated, again assumed its normal shape, the carious masseswere expelled, the various channels of suppuration were stopped, and thedanger of a fatal consumptive fever was averted. If our aid is notsought until _the head of the femur is destroyed, and the bone hascompletely slipt out of its socket_, it is impossible to preventshortening and stiffness of the limb. Another splendid triumph over adreadful source of danger and disease! WHITE SWELLING OF THE KNEE is very similar to this affection of the hip-joint. Here too we observethe same insidious inflammatory beginning, the same irresistibletendency to ichorous suppuration and disorganization of the constituentparts of the joint, the same tendency to destroy the organism by gradualexhausting fever. We have unmistakeable proofs of the presence of apoisonous process pervading the whole organism. He who has had frequentopportunities of observing this disease, knows perfectly in whatmysterious obscurity it is still enveloped, and how specificallydifferent this affection of the knee sometimes appears to us from thehip disease. The homœopathic law teaches us more positively than anything else could do, that every case of disease should be viewed assomething specifically distinct from other cases, and should be treatedwith medicines that are specifically adapted to it. An experience ofmany years has taught me that iodine is the best remedy to meet thesymptoms which generally characterize white swelling of the knee. Evenat the present day Iodine is one of those remedies that require a gooddeal of elucidation. Hence we should not, carried away by analogy, conclude from those things which are not clear, concerning other thingswhich are no more so. Nevertheless the observations which have been madeso far, have led to some highly important, more or less positiveconclusions, and have shown us with a certain degree of satisfaction andcertainty, that iodine is an inestimable gift of God, by means of whichwe are enabled to free mankind from one of the most frightfulcomplications, the psoric, sycosic and mercurial miasms. I have beeninduced by various signs to believe that, in white swelling of the kneesuch a complication exists. Considering the paucity of our observations bearing upon this importantpoint, it seems impracticable to make any positive statements withreference to the assistance that we might possibly derive from the useof Apis in this disease. My own opportunities for observation havingbeen very few, I recommend the use of Apis in white swelling of theknee, to my professional brethren. The following symptoms in "Hering'sAmerican Provings, " seem to indicate it; No. 's 828, 829 and 931, "violent pain in the left knee, externally, above and below the knee, particularly above, somewhat in front; painful œdematous swelling of theknee; burning stinging about the knee. " In white swelling of the knee, where no allœopathic treatment has yet been pursued, I recommend Iodine30, one globule, in six dessert-spoonfuls of water, a dessert-spoonfulmorning and evening, until the whole is finished; after this wait threedays, and then give Apis 3, as before mentioned, a tablespoonful everyhour or three hours, or a drop morning and evening, according as thepain or danger is more or less pressing. Apis is more especially usefulin removing pain, in changing the secretion of ichor to that of healthypus, and in arresting the consumptive fever. After these results havebeen accomplished, we permit the previously given Iodine to achieve thecure. If Iodine had been abused under allœopathic treatment, before thehomœopathic treatment commenced, we give Iodine 5000, one globule, inorder to subdue the Iodine diathesis, and thus remove the most powerfulobstacle to a cure. Any one who knows more about this point, will pleasemention it. Although Apis acts well in white swelling of the knee, which iscomparatively a rare disease, yet it is far more useful in DYSENTERY. It is undoubtedly true that Hahnemann has revealed to us the means ofsurpassing in this disease the allœopathic wisdom of a thousand years, by a far more successful, safe and expeditious treatment. Nevertheless, much remains to be desired in this dreaded disease. Who does not knowthat medicinal aggravations are particularly to be dreaded in thismalady? Who has not often felt embarrassed to select the right remedyamong three or four that seemed indicated by the symptoms, and where itwas nevertheless important, in view of the threatening danger, to selectat once the right remedy? Who has not been struck by the strangeirregularity that in a disease which generally sets in as an epidemic, different remedies are often indicated by different groups of symptoms?Who has not become convinced after a careful observation of the courseof the disease, that nothing is more deceptive than the pretendedcurative virtues of corrosive sublimate in dysentery, and that it is amatter of duty to be mindful, in this very particular, of the warningwords of the master who, having himself been deceived at one time by thedelusive palliation of mercury, addresses to us the remarkable warningthat "mercury, so far from responding to all non-venereal maladies, onthe contrary is one of the most deceitful palliatives the temporaryaction of which is not only soon followed by a return of the originalsymptoms of disease, but even by a return of these symptoms in anaggravated form. " (See Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases, Vol. II. ) This delusive palliation is more particularly one of the effects ofcorrosive sublimate in Dysentery; and is exceedingly dangerous in thisdisease. Hence we warn practitioners against this danger. We feel so much the more grateful to the principle Similia Similibus, which, even though it did not protect its discoverer from faultyapplications, yet finally led us to the discovery of the right remedyfor dysentery. No. 's 590 and 599 in the American Provings, read as follows: "Violenttenesmus; nausea, vomiting and diarrhœa, first lumpy and not fetid, afterwards watery and fetid, lastly papescent, mixed with blood andmucus, and attended with tenesmus; afterwards dysenteric stools, withtenesmus and sensation as if the bowels were crushed;" combining thesesymptoms with the general character of Apis, particularly thecircumstance that not only the ordinary precursors and first symptoms ofdysentery, but also its terminations and its sequelæ, and its mostimportant complications find their approved remedy in Apis; all thisshows us that Apis is a natural remedy for dysentery. This truth isabundantly confirmed by experience. All my previously obtained resultsin practice, testify to the correctness of this statement. At the very commencement of the disease, a globule of Apis 3 issufficient to cut short the disease so that the patient feels easy, andsleeps quietly. During this slumber, fever, pain and tenesmus disappear, and the patient wakes with a feeling of health. If this should not takeplace in three hours, owing to the more advanced state of the disease, another dose of Apis is required, after which the patient soon feelswell. If the dysenteric disease has had a chance to localize itself, and toassume a higher degree of intensity, it becomes necessary to excite theorganic reaction all the more frequently. Under these circumstances werepeat the medicine every hour, or every two or three hours, one globuleat a time, until all further medication has become unnecessary. It is well known that epidemic diarrhœa, viz. , a diarrhœa resulting frompeculiar alterations of the normal condition of the atmosphere, earth, water, indispensable food, or from other still unknown elementaryinfluences inevitably acting upon every body, commences in the form of asimple, apparently unimportant diarrhœa; that it gradually increases inintensity as the processes of nutrition and sanguification become moredeeply disturbed, and that it finally terminates in life-destroyingcholera. All these different stages of diarrhœa, whether with or withoutvomiting, watery or papescent, of one color or another, with or withoutpain, with or without fever, have yielded readily, safely and thoroughlyto Apis in my hands. I must except, however, cholera of the epidemicform, where I have not yet been able to try Apis for want ofopportunity. As far as my personal observations go, I am disposed toaffirm that the best mode of effecting a good result, is to give Apis 3and Aconite 3, in alternation, one drop of each preparation well shakenin a bottle containing twelve tablespoonfuls of water, and giving atablespoonful every hour or three hours, if the danger is great, and inmilder cases a full drop alternately morning and evening. This treatmentis continued until an improvement sets in, after which the organicreaction is permitted to develope itself, which will terminate in a fewhours or days, according as the disease is more or less violent, andassistance was sought more or less early, in the perfect recovery of thepatient. This end is not always attained with equal certainty and rapidity, ifApis is not given in alternation with Aconite. In such a case, Apisalone often develops a powerful reaction, which is avoided by thealternate use of Aconite. Wherever the case is urgent, and it isimportant to shorten the durations of the organic reaction, the tworemedies should be given in alternation. In most cases I have seen a fewalternate doses give rise to a pleasant perspiration, speedily followedby quiet sleep and recovery on waking. May we not expect the same resultat the commencement of Asiatic cholera, and thus arrest the furtherdevelopment of the disease? Apis is no less effectual against _chronic diarrhœa_, more particularlyif resulting, not from any deep-seated disorganizations, but from somepermanent inflammatory irritation of the intestinal mucous membrane, andwhich causes and fosters so much distress, by rendering all normaldigestion impossible and finally bringing on its inseparable companion, the last degree of hypochondria. This misery is so much more lamentable, as it is, so to say, forced upon mankind from the cradle to the grave bythe still prevailing and almost ineradicable delusion of _catharticmedication_. Scarcely has the little being seen the light of the world, when theprocess of purgation begins. Nurse, aunt, grandmamma, everybody, hastento hush the cries which the rough contact of the outer world extortsfrom the little being, by forcing down its throat a little laxativemixture, and the family-physician, who goes by fashion, approves of allthis. It is his habit, in after-life, to combat every littlecostiveness, every digestive derangement, every incipient disease, bymeans of his cathartic mixture, and his skill is consideredproportionate to the quantity of stuff which the bowels expel under theoperation of his drugs. Laxative pills, rhubarb, glauber-salts, bitter-waters, aloes, gin, etc. , etc. , are in every body's hands, andbecome an increasing necessity for millions. An ancient prejudicedecrees that, to permit a single day to pass by without stool, would beto expose one's life to the greatest danger. Every year we see thousandsrush to warm and cold springs that have the reputation of beingpossessed with dissolvent and cathartic properties. Those who cannotafford to go to the springs, use artificial mineral water in order toaccomplish similar purposes. Very seldom a disease is met with, that ispermitted to run its course without dissolvent or cathartic means. It isstill a profitable business to sell patent purgatives, such as cider inwhich a little magnesia has been dissolved. Everybody feels how offensive these things are to nature; how theyattack the stomach and bowels; how they derange digestion and nutrition;how slowly patients recover from the effects of such drugs; how chronicabdominal affections, after having been eased for a while by such drugs, soon return again with redoubled vigor; how the dose has to be increasedin order to obtain the same result; how the intervals of relief becomesshorter and shorter, and how, in the end, the stomach is totally ruined, and the abnormal irritation and paralysis of this viscus, with thediarrhœa and constipation, corresponding to these conditions, graduallylead to the complete derangement of the reproductive process. In spite of all this, long habit has secured to these pernicious customsa sort of prescriptive right. The distress consequent upon them, increases in proportion as the reactive powers of the organism decrease, which is more particularly the case in the present generation. Thesuppression of these abuses has never been more necessary than in ourage. Indeed, the old proverb is again verified: "Where need is greatest, there help is nearest. " The world is not only indebted to Hahnemann for a knowledge, but alsofor a natural corrective of this serious abuse. His provings on healthypersons show this beyond a doubt. Few men, if their attention has oncebeen directed to this abuse, will feel disposed to deny its extent. Norhas a favorable change in this respect been looked for in vain, sincehomœopathy has now, for half a century at least, shown the uselessnessof all regular methods of purgation, and the superiority of the meanswith which this new system accomplishes most effectually all that thosepernicious methods promised to do. It should be considered a duty byevery physician, to be acquainted with the new means of cure. Thecontinued use of purgatives should be considered a crime against health. They will soon cease to exist as regular means of treatment, and theirpernicious consequences will no longer have to be relieved by remedialmeans. But until their use is abolished, we shall have to counteractthem by adequate means of cure, more particularly the abnormalirritation and the paralytic debility, which are the most commonconsequences of the abuse of cathartics. It is a most fortunate thing that we have in Apis one of the mostreliable means of removing the evil effects of cathartic medicines. Asingle globule of Apis 30 is sufficient to this end. It is best to useit as follows: dissolve the globule in five tablespoonfuls of water byshaking the mixture well in a well closed vial, and let the patient takea tablespoonful of this solution. If this dose acts well, no repetitionis necessary for the present. If this dose should not be sufficient, weprepare a new potence by throwing away three tablespoonfuls of theformer solution and substituting four tablespoonfuls of fresh water, shaking the mixture well. We give a spoonful of this second solution, twenty-four hours after the first had been given, and, if necessary, athird spoonful prepared in the same way, and even a fourth and fifth, after which we await the result, without thinking either of improvementor exacerbation. Generally, a feeling of ease is experienced shortly after taking Apis. The painful sensitiveness of the pit of the stomach and of the abdomen, together with the troublesome, disagreeable and oppressive distentionand weight, soon disappear; the tongue gradually loses its swollen andcracked appearance, its dirty redness, its slimy coating, its sorespots, tardy indentations along its edges, the burnt feeling at its tip, which is dotted with very fine vesicles, that cause a good deal ofsoreness; the pappy, sour, bitter, metallic, foul taste disappears; theappetite is again normal; both the previous aversion to food and theexcessive craving disappear; the absence of thirst, which is so commonin this condition, again gives place to a natural desire for drink, thebluish-red color and swelling of the palate and throat, and theincessant urging to hawk, decrease visibly: the distress after eating;the sour stomach with or without nausea or heartburn; the excessiverising of air; the regurgitation of the ingesta; the eructations whichtaste of the food that had been eaten long before; the yawning; theirresistible drowsiness when sitting; the general loss of strength; thevacuity of mind, the aversion to talking and to company, decrease moreand more every day; the whole abdomen feels easier and softer: theexcessive and irresistible urging to urinate, especially after risingfrom a chair or from bed, and accompanied by a distressing nervousness, abates; the diarrhœic and abnormally colored evacuations, together withthe frequent and irresistible urging, increased after eating, early inthe morning and after sour and flatulent food, and accompanied byvarious sore pains in the rectum, diminish more and more, and give placeto normal evacuations, first for days, next for weeks, although theycontinue to alternate more or less with constipation, or painful, insufficient, hard stool, until they terminate sooner or later, according as the disease is more or less deep-seated, and had lastedmore or less long, in permanent restoration of the normal secretions andexcretions of the digestive organs. At the same time the many distresseswhich the abnormal condition of the bowels and stomach had occasioned inthe head and heart, disappear; the poor patient who had been a prey toso many sufferings, feels like one born again. This is the general result, unless psoric, sycosic, syphilitic orvaccinine complications should be present. Unfortunately the abuse ofcathartics excites these miasms if they exist in the organism, and atthe same time prostrates the reactive powers of the organism, andenables its enemies to rise against it. The distress becomes more andmore complicated; disorganizations, alterations of the fluids, disturbances of the assimilative sphere, nervous derangements fromsimple illusions of the sentient sphere, and occasional trembling andtwitching, to spasmodic and convulsive movements, and final extinctionof nervous power, marasmus of the spinal marrow or a ramollissement ofthe brain; these are the consequences of such miasmatic complications. In such a case Apis alone is not sufficient. We have to employ suchantidotes as _Sulphur_, our most powerful anti-psoric which, unless ithad been abused previously, never leaves us in the lurch in the presenceof psora; _iodine_ which, under similar circumstances, becomesindispensable wherever psora and sycosis are combined; _bichromate ofpotash_ or _fluoric acid_, if psora, syphilis and mercurial poisoningare united; and lastly, _tartar emetic_, or again _fluoric acid_, if thevaccine poison alone, or in combination with the other poisons, occupiesthe foreground. This is not the place to treat of these special forms of human distress, and to individualize their treatment; I shall endeavor to do this on amore suitable occasion. I shall have to limit myself here to asuperficial sketch of the treatment, adding merely that a single dose ofthe specific antidote will act best if given highly potentized, and thatthe improvement should afterwards be allowed to progress as long as atrace of it remains visible. But as soon as the improvement stops and anexacerbation sets in, which is not speedily followed by anotherimprovement, or which seems to require our aid, we use Apis 3, one dropevery day, until the improvement is again perceived, after which we waituntil another exacerbation demands our interference. One dose of Apis isoften insufficient; if not, from three to five doses will be foundsufficient to mitigate the pains, and to advance the cure which Apiswill complete in conjunction with the high potency that should not berepeated, and which is not interfered with by the Apis. What moreprecious boon for the physician and patient in these serious moments? Itis only a physician who has instituted provings upon himself, that iscapable of comprehending this harmonious blending of the two therapeuticagents. He sees the well known effects of a well known cause go and comeat alternate periods. What man of common sense would be willing torepudiate such evidence? But even in a case where Sulphur and Iodine had been given to excess, and a sort of Sulphur and Iodine diathesis had been established inconsequence, Apis is still the best remedy to meet this complicatedderangement. Although we may believe that the time is at hand when this kind ofignorance shall no longer be tolerated, it unfortunately is still aprevailing sin of the profession. Even if we should be unable to effecta perfect cure, yet we may afford essential relief to such patients; wemay often arrest their sufferings for a longer or shorter period, andshorten the paroxysms until they become almost imperceptible. Apis isparticularly instrumental in effecting this end. Diseases of the RESPIRATORY ORGANS are likewise successfully combated by Apis. The American Provingscontain the following symptomatic indications: 1. No. 's 731, 733, 736, 742, 743, 749, 760: "Hoarseness and difficultyof breathing, roughness and sensitiveness in the larynx, each time afterhe smells of the poison; talking is painful, sensation as if the larynxwere tired by talking; drawing pains in the larynx; cough when startingduring sleep; rough cough during evening; heat; difficult breathing, every drop of liquid almost suffocates him; labored inspirations asduring croup. " 2. 737-740: "Violent paroxysms of cough, occasioned by a titillatingirritation in the lower part of the larynx near the throat-pit, withincrease of headache when coughing, on the left side, superiorly; inhalf an hour, some phlegm is detached, after which the coughing ceases;on the first day, when waked from his sleep before midnight, he had aviolent cough, especially after lying down and sleeping, withtitillation at a very small spot, deep down on the posterior wall of thethorax, which wakes him; he feels better as soon as the least littleportion of mucous is detached; cough particularly during warmth, duringrest, and rousing him from his first slumber for several evenings. " 3. 1081, 746, 790: "Chilly every afternoon at three or four o'clock; sheshudders, especially during warmth; chill across the back, the handsfeel as if dead; in about an hour she felt hot and feverish, with roughcough, hot cheeks and hands, without thirst; this passes off gradually, she feels heavy and prostrate; cough and labored breathing as duringcroup, after violent feverish heat, with dry skin and full pulse;disturbed sleep, with muttering, timid and incoherent talk, whitish-yellow coating of the tongue, and painless, yellow-greenish, slimy diarrhœa, in four days the breathing become labored, a violentabdominal respiration, red face, increasingly livid, pulse hard, cough, with barking resonance--pains in the chest, with labored breathing. " 4. 754, 770, 772, 803: "Hurried, labored breathing, with heat andheadache; chest oppressed; difficult labored breathing; sense ofsuffocation even when leaning against a thing; general debility; worseduring cold weather, accompanied by asthmatic pains; cough; sense ofsuffocation; pains in the chest; coldness and deadness of theextremities, which looked bluish; sense of soreness; lameness; sense ofbruising in the chest, as after recent contusions by a blow; jamming, etc. " These observations do not indeed show with characteristic certainty thediseases to which Apis might correspond. But if they are contrasted withthe total character of Apis; if we consider that Apis develops acatarrhal irritation throughout the whole intestinal mucous membrane, affecting most deeply the nervous system and the normal constitution ofthe fluids, we have sufficient ground to experiment with Apis in thoserespiratory diseases which seem to be inherent in the prevailing geniusof disease, and which are characterized by the very conditions which Ihave described. Who is not struck by the fact, that the same individualmorbid process is reflected by different forms of disease, _croup_, _whooping-cough_, _influenza_, _acute and chronic bronchial catarrh_?The more essential the resemblance between these forms of disease andthe medicinal power, the more certainly may we expect a cure. Themedicinal power which seems to be most adequate to this end, isundoubtedly Apis. My observations in this respect are not sufficientlynumerous to enable me to offer positive directions concerning the bestmode of using the medicine in these diseases, or concerning the extentof the curative process or the complications that may exist. All I cando is to recommend Apis for further experiments in this range, and toremind my brethren of the insufficiency of other drugs, which has been asource of trouble to us in the past ten years. Every body who haswatched the course of these diseases during this period, must have seenthe difference existing between the present and the past character ofthe symptoms. It must, therefore, be a source of satisfaction to all ofus, to have found in Apis an agent that is capable of filling up thegap. My observations regarding the curative virtues of Apis in urinary, uterine and ovarian difficulties, and in rheumatism and gout, are notvery extended. In the American Provings, symptoms 634 to 669, seem topoint to urinary difficulties, and 685 to 695, to ovarian troubles;symptoms 697 to 727 to uterine derangements; and 837, 842, 867, 873, 874, 918, 919, 940, 942, 964, 969, to rheumatism and gout. What little experience I have had in the employment of Apis in thesediseases, is, however, sufficient to induce me to recommend the use ofit for further and more enlarged knowledge. I have had abundant opportunities of verifying the warning expressed inNo. 721, "pregnant women should use the drug very cautiously. " I am notacquainted with any drug which seems possessed of such reliable virtuesregarding the prevention of miscarriage, more particularly during thefirst half of pregnancy, as Apis. I have often become an involuntaryspectator of the power of Apis to effect miscarriage; for I had given itto honest women who did not know that they were pregnant, and where thefact of pregnancy was revealed to them by the subsequent miscarriage, which took place after one or two doses of Apis had been taken. Eversince I have made it a rule not to give Apis to females in whom theexistence of pregnancy can be suspected in the remotest degree until thematter is reduced to a certainty, and the conduct of the physician canbe determined upon in accordance with existing facts. I am unable to say how far this power inherent in Apis, of producingmiscarriage, may be serviceable to females who are prone to miscarriage. I beg the privilege of adding a more general warning to this particularone. The more generally useful a thing is, the more liable is it toabuse. The most important and useful discoveries of homœopathy areabused in this manner by our age given to all sorts of excesses. Not only are the records of homœopathy ransacked by speculative minds, who use her advantages for personal gain without giving due credit tothe source whence the good things are obtained. This species of egotismmay perhaps be excused in consideration of the use which this kind ofplagiarism affords, even if whole volumes should be filled with it. Butif the stolen property is paraded before the world as somethingbelonging to one's self by right divine; if official influence is abusedfor the purpose of dressing up that which rightfully belongs to ourscience, as some original discovery, thus caricaturing and disfiguringthe beauty of the genuine blessing; then good is changed to evil, andthe evil is the greater, the more comprehensive the truth that is soshamefully abused. It is absurd and may entail sad consequences upon theworld, if the rational use of Apis is to be converted to the irrationalproceedings of the so-called specific method, which is often practisedby men who, knowing better, purposely conceal the truth from the world. For years past, I have been called upon again and again, by patients whohad been in the hands of these men, and who had been drenched withmedicine, and had had all sorts of disastrous complications engenderedin their poor bodies, to afford them some relief from these torturesinflicted by physicians who do not hesitate to assail the health oftheir patients by massive doses of drugs, of which they often knownothing but the name. With these facts before me, nobody can find it strange that I shouldfeel some misgivings in laying before the world a drug endowed with suchextensive virtues. Apis is one of those drugs, the abuse of which mayprove as destructive as the use of it is a source of saving good. It isno anti-psoric, nor is it capable of antidoting the three miasms, or ofinflicting medicinal diseases for life. Nevertheless, it is a deeply andspeedily-acting drug, for it affects the whole internal mucous membrane, the nervous system, and the process of sanguification, thus disturbingthe health for a long time. Its primary aggravating action, its deeplypenetrating interference with the existing morbid process, which maylead to errors in diagnosis, and its power to exhaust the reactiveenergies of the organism prematurely, render it a very dangerous agent. These circumstances go to show that such an agent, in the hands of thepartizans of the Specific School, may be as dangerously and injuriouslyabused as other important drugs have been. I cannot sufficiently warn myreaders against such distressing abuses. Only he is protected from thedanger of imitating such shameful absurdities, who listens to the wordsof our master: "Imitate this, but imitate this correctly!" Transcriber's Note: Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Inconsistent hyphenation has been standardised, whilst variant and archaic spellings remain as printed.