EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL WAGNER, WASHINGTON, D. C. 



AT TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM, PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. 



Vol. VIII. 



NOVEMBER, "lS'T'S. 



No. 5. 



[Translated for the American Bee Journal.] 



HONEY. 

 Its Wonderful Healing Qualities. 



its use as an article op food and as a 



medicine. 



By Karl Gatter. 



Preface. 



It is far more difficult than one would at first 

 suppose, to write a book on honey, and its va- 

 ried qualities as a source of nourishment and 

 means of remedy for disease, especially when 

 you pass in review before the reader its general 

 use a thousand years ago, its gradual decline, 

 and now its re-appearance. One has thus, 



1. To trace the history of honey back to the 

 most ancient times, to find out what were then 

 its various uses and qualities, and what were its 

 prerogatives as a means of food and medicine. 

 - 2. To place before the reader the causes 

 through which honey gradually lost its honored 

 place on the table and in the pharmacopoeia. 



3. To show how, in later times, honey has 

 been gradually restored to its old position, and 

 is again becoming a choice food on the table, as 

 well as a remedy in sickness. 



The object of this little work is not to give 

 an extended essay or dissertation on the advan- 

 tages of honey, but to call the attention of the 

 friendly reader to the advantages and healing 

 virtues of this wonderful product of nature, and 

 to recommend to the beekeepers its rational 

 management ; to enlighten the purchaser as to 

 the various means used for adulterating honey, 

 and especially to urge the greater consumption 

 of this health giving product, so that as in ear- 

 lier times, and as yet among many nations, espe- 

 cially the Polanders, the Russians, and the 

 inhabitants of the Orient, it will become a com- 

 mon article of food, and be found in the larder 

 of every one. Lord Canning, and an honored 

 German chemist, uttered the axiom, that the use 

 of honey and soap was a measure of culture and 

 opulence ; to this, Bauingartner adds the in- 

 dustrial use of sulphur ; and I add, inform me 

 s to the use of honey by any people or nation, 



and I will tell you how they stand as regards 

 health and physical strength, since pure, una- 

 dulterated honey is for the healthy the simplest, 

 most natural, healthiest and most strengthening 

 food, for the sick their best remedy, and for the 

 convalescent the true balsam of life, to restore 

 their strength and health. 



That in writing the history of honey, I should 

 also touch on bee-culture, which is so closely 

 connected with it, lies partly in the very nature 

 of the subject, and partly from my own -love of 

 bee-culture. 



A strong influence for publishing this book, 

 was the fact that I, a sufferer from hemorrhages, 

 already given up to despair, and at the verge of 

 the grave, was saved by the wonderful curative 

 powers of honey, and now, thank God, I am 

 freed, not only from weakness of my lungs, 

 but rejoice in the possession of perfect health. 



At my first attack, upwards of thirty years 

 ago, powders and tea were ordered for me, 

 which benefited me but little. I then placed 

 little confidence in honey, which I us'ed occa- 

 sionally, and in small quantities. Judging from 

 my present knowledge, I believe that the honey 

 was the only remedy that was doing me any 

 good, and it is this that I have to thank for the 

 gradual, the sure restoration of my health. 



As my disease increased, I began to use 

 cod liver oil, which in some measure mitigated 

 my trouble, but at the same time weakened and 

 injured my stomach, so that I could hardly di- 

 gest anything more, and my condition became 

 worse and worse. Again I returned to honey, 

 when my suffering immediately began to de- 

 crease and disappear. Besides the use of honey, 

 I took pains to preserve my breast and lungs 

 from injury, which, in my trying situation as 

 public teacher, was almost impossible. My 

 disease being caused by my constant teaching 

 during so many years. I gave up my profession, 

 and honey as my only medicine, whereby I, by 

 the simplest, safest, quickest and pleasantest 

 manner (for I was fond of honey), relieved the 

 disease in my throat, and out of thankfulness I 

 now write this apology, for the use and benefit 

 of many, especially for the use of those suffer- 

 ing from diseases of the throat and lungs. 



1 have for many years devoted my closest at- 

 tention to honey, collected everything relating 

 to it, tested various recommended methods of pu- 



