APIS MELLIFICA 



ration, the vapor is inflammable, and the honey becomes 

 brown and acquires an unpleasant flavor, which is strong in 

 proportion to the degree of temperature employed. Lowitz 

 found that the addition of charcoal to a solution of honey 

 deprives it of odor, taste, and color, but the color again returns 

 when the solution is evaporated. Cavezzali separated the 

 sugar by first melting the honey, then adding carbonate of 

 lime (egg-shells) in powder as long as any effervescence ap- 

 peared, and after separating a scum, which forms by rest, 

 filtering it, and setting it aside to crystallize. The crystals 

 he purified by washing them with alcohol. Proust separated 

 it from a ready-granulated honey by the action of alcohol. 

 The sugar of honey is of two kinds, one resembling the sugar 

 of grapes, the other the sugar of the sugar-cane. Nitric acid 

 converts honey into oxalic acid. 



Honey is laxative, and externally detergent and stimulant. 

 Simple honey is seldom ordered as an internal medicine; 

 indeed, when freely eaten as food, it passes off quickly by stool, 

 and induces colic in some habits, on which account simple 

 sirup should perhaps be preferred in all cases for forming 

 medicinal preparations for internal use. As a local stimulant, 

 it is employed in glysters, and forms an excellent adjunct to 

 gargles in cynanche and aphthous ulceration of the mouth 

 and fauces. It is also a useful detergent to foul ulcers. 



WAX, in the extended meaning of the term, may be re- 

 garded both as an animal and a vegetable product. But 

 it is only the former species of it, or beeswax, which is offi- 

 cinal, and demands present consideration. It is admitted 

 into the list of materia medico, under two forms. I. As it is 

 procured originally from the combs, combined with coloring- 

 matter, or unbleached. II. Deprived of color, and purified, 

 or bleached. 



CERA FLAVA. Unbleached wax, or yellow wax, is prepared 

 immediately from the honeycomb. The honey is obtained 

 by dripping and pressing the comb, which is then soaked for 

 some days in clear water to extract all the remaining honey, 

 and afterwards melted in a clean vessel with boiling water, 

 and pressed through cloth bags. It is then remelted and cast 

 into round cakes, in which form it is brought to market. 



Good and recent yellow wax has a slight odor of honey, 

 is insipid, and of a bright pale-yellow hue. It is brittle, yet 

 soft, somewhat unctuous to the touch, but without adhering 



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