APIS. ^^^ 



ance. On January nth his leg felt stronger and he could walk better. 

 On January 13th he said he had less pain on leaving bed, and much better 

 nights since January 8th, but followed by considerable pain in the day.. 

 He was better on January isth, and his nights were still good. Walking 

 did not seem so firm. There was a large, circular, inflamed patch pver 

 the trochanter. The last application of bees was followed by severe m- 

 flammation along the thigh. On January 19th the leg was not so strong, and 

 there was increased pain. On January 22d he reported that he had more 

 pain in the day, but the nights were very much better. On January 2Sth 

 the pain was still severe, particularly in the femur. On January 29th pain 

 followed in the right hip joint. On February 2d there was great stiflfness 

 in the thigh and knee-joint, and he was compelled to walk more slowly. 

 On February 5th there was no improvement; but he was no worse. This 

 gentleman seems to be losing heart, but, after thirteen years, cure can not 

 be expected under a month, and after only one hundred bees have been 

 used. He is continuing the treatment. — British Medical Journai, December, 

 1908. 



As to my own case, up to January 22d my progress was most satis- 

 factory. I continued to apply two lots of bees a week, and in all, 271 to 

 that date. I had slight twinges of muscular rheumatism of not more than 

 a few minutes' duration, for which reason I persevered with the treatment. 

 But on that day I contracted a chill and suffered at night some pain in the 

 glutei and right sciatic nerve. I at once put on eleven bees, and slept well, 

 the pain next morning being much easier, and permitting me to work. 

 On January 23d, after a' long harassing day, I got to bed tired at 10 P. M., 

 and applied fifteen bees, and on January 24th only had slight pain in the 

 glutei, nbne in the sciatic. I made a necropsy for the coroner at 6.30 P. M., 

 in a fireless mortuary, with a glass roof, the temperature being below 

 freezing. On January 2Sth I attended the inquest in a court with mercury 

 at 70°, the external temperature being 25°. I applied twelve bees on Jan- 

 uary 24th, and eight on the following day. On January 26th I had great 

 pain in the glutei, and on January 29th this was increased on walking. I 

 applied fourteen bees, and was better on January 30tlf, but still had some 

 difficulty in walking. On Sunday, January 31st, I rested in bed all day, 

 and applied eight bees at night. From February ist to 7th the pain varied. 

 On February 3d and 4th there was much pain after walking, and I applied 

 in six days forty-five bees. On February 20th I was entirely free from 

 acute pain, but still continue the stinging. I am taking no other medicine, 

 and, but for occasional transient pain, feel very fit, and have, as one of my 

 old ladies says, a very "avaricious appetite." — British Medical Jour.nal, March, 

 1909. 



Following these reports Dr. Burton adds a few words concerning 

 the pain incident to the treatment : 



I have been asked frequently as to the pain of stinging. After the 

 first three stingings on myself, I find that the intensity of the pain is much 

 less lasting than at first — in fact, is over in half an hour at the most. Some 

 of the bees seem to cause greater pain than others, but I think this may be 

 explained by a larger cutaneous nerve being wounded by the sting I hope 

 that shortly your readers will have, from his own pen, the experience of 

 another Birmingham practitioner, who tells me he has found great relief 

 to old-standing sciatica from this treatment. 



That the use of the sting of the bee in rheumatism is broadly 

 disseminated is evident, an Austrian physician. Dr. Terc, claiming to 

 have successfully treated seven hundred cases, as shown by the fol- 

 lowing extracts: 



"There is a widespread popular belief in England, and, indeed, through- 

 out Western Europe, that stinging by bees is a cure for rheumatism and 

 allied ailments. Over a year ago Dr. Ainley Walker, of Oxford, asked 



