946 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



perforated zinc would make. This would make a 

 bad condition of things were the clamp placed 

 where the honey-board now is. They seem to enter 

 the sections just as readily as they do in my hive 

 where the sections are only % of an inch from the 

 top-bar, or 3 i of an inch from the brood. The mat- 

 ter of distance of sections from brood was brought 

 up at our last State convention, and some of the 

 friends said they had put on three or four honey- 

 boards, and could see no difference in the bees en- 

 tering the sections. But, all things considered, I 

 prefer having the sections as close to the brood 

 as possible. In my home yard there is but one 

 bee-space, no slatted honey -board, and no burr- 

 combs, and all increase comes under this plan. I 

 think, in Oct. 15th issue of Gleanings Prof. Cook 

 spoke of the advocates of chaff hives, clamps, etc., 

 for wintering. He did not get the mode of packing 

 the Bingham hive just right. They are in winter 

 quarters now. If you would like I will have a 

 photograph taken, and send you, with description 

 and manner of manipulating for comb honey. 

 Fremont, Mich., Nov. 21, 1889. G. E. Hilton. 



Friend^II., well do I remember that event- 

 ful day ; and every time I think of it, espe- 

 cially "when brought to mind by your ear- 

 nest work in the Master's service, I can only 

 say, " May the Lord be praised ! " — Since 

 you speak of it, I do not see why alfalfa 

 should not thrive on many of the sandy 

 wastes of Northern Michigan. If any of 

 our bee-friends in that section have given 

 it a trial, will they please speak out? 



CONVINCING TESTIMONY OF THE 

 VALUE OF BEE-STINGS AS A 



BEMEDY. 



HOW THEIR DIRECT APPLICATION CURES INFLAM- 

 MATORY RHEUMATISM; BY A COMPETENT 

 PHYSICIAN. 



fRIEND ROOT:— I have seen several state- 

 ments in Gleanings in regard to rheuma- 

 tism being cured by the sting of bees. I will 

 now give you some of my experience, and a 

 few facts, which have placed apis melifica 

 very high in my estimation as a rheumatic, and also 

 as a kidney and bladder remedy. I give it in many 

 cases for these diseases when indicated. 



1. I do not recommend it in all cases; but it is 

 worthy of a trial; and if it gives relief it will nearly 

 always effect a cure if continued for some time. 

 As rheumatism is often caused from diseases of 

 the kidneys and bladder, 1 deem it a favorable sign 

 when the flow of urine is increased, if ever so little, 

 by its use. It matters very little which way it is 

 introduced into the system, just so it gets there. 

 I have used the tincture many years in my general 

 practice, and I should not like to dispense with it. 

 Its use has a broad field in the healing art, and is 

 not confined by any means to the above-mentioned 

 diseases. In the treatment of rheumatism I should 

 rather prefer the direct sting from the bee, if it 

 were possible to apply unbeknown to the patient, 

 which I have succeeded in, in a few instances, for I 

 fear that, to make public the mode of application, 

 would have a tendency to elicit unfavorable com- 

 ments from the medical fraternity and a criticising 

 public. 



In the month of January, about twelve years ago, 

 I was called to the country to see Mr. J. B. I found 



him confined to his bed with intiammatory rheuma- 

 tism. The attack was very severe, considerable 

 swelling and intense pain. Not having any apis 

 melifica in my case, I inquired if they had any bees. 

 I was answered they had, and I requested to be 

 taken to a hive. I procured a number, and return- 

 ed to my patient. I gave him one sting before he 

 knew what I was doing. He said, "Oh my! Dr. 

 Gress ! do you intend killing me?" I assured him it 

 was necessary to give him reliei in that way or he 

 would have to continue suffering until I returned 

 to town and procured other remedies. After argu- 

 ing a few moments I gave him a second pop, and 

 then agaiu a third, fourth, fifth, and 1 think in all 

 about eight, when he commenced to enter serious 

 objections, so I patiently awaited results, which 

 soon followed in the way of relief of pain, free se- 

 cretion of urine, and perspiration. I left one hour 

 after, with advice to use the little doctors in the 

 morning. In the afternoon he came to town to see 

 me, and during our conversation he stated he 

 would like to have me make a statement in the 

 paper in regard to the great benefit he had derived. 

 I objected, for reasons before given. But I am 

 frank to admit that I never attended him for any 

 more rheumatism, as the bees were alwajs his doc- 

 tor in that particular disease. 



My second experience was with a negro who ap- 

 plied at the office, suffering with inflammatory rheu- 

 matism. I requested him to call at two" 1 o'clock, as 

 I had just received a call. While at home at dinner 

 time, I procured some of my cross Italian bees, 

 and on returning to my office I turned them loose 

 in my consultation-room, so I could go in and pick 

 them up as I should require them. I examined the 

 limb, found it swollen and'painful. Using his own 

 words he said, " Doctor, if you don't do something 

 for me I shall be compelled to get some one to car- 

 ry me home. I am growing worse every minute." I 

 told him I would use the medicated needle, as it 

 would act quick. I secured one of my little doctors, 

 hiding it with a piece of tissue paper. 1 quickly 

 applied it to a sensitive spot. Say's he, " Boss, that 

 needle am pretty sharp," and began to scratch the 

 place, while I went in for another Italian bee. Re- 

 turning I gave him another pop. He then, wanted 

 to see the needle. Of course, 1 did not show him 

 what I had used. I then went back to "put some 

 more medicine on the needle," and on my return he 

 exclaimed, " Say, boss, that pain am getting better; 

 but it am smarting just like the sting of a wasp." I 

 made no answer, but kept on applying until I had 

 stung him about ten times. Perspiration now com- 

 menced to start, when he got up, stating he was 

 free from pain. He called the next day, stating he 

 gradually grew better, and there was scarcely any 

 swelling left. I have used the tincture of apis with 

 almost the same results, although for prompt re- 

 lief I prefer the " little doctors." 



Atchison, Kan., Nov. 20, 1889. P. C. Gress, M. D. 



Well, friends, this begins to look like busi- 

 ness in dead earnest, so far as inflammato- 

 ry rheumatism is concerned. There are 

 enough, I presume, afflicted with this mal- 

 ady to give the matter a complete test in a 

 very short time. If one case of inflammato- 

 ry rheumatism in ten is cured as promptly 

 as in the above instances, the discovery will 

 be a boon for mankind, without any ques- 

 tion. Let the afflicted at once make the 

 trial, and report. 



