APIS. 



I have seen a number of cases of diseases in women characterized by 

 nsations of heat, burning pains in the bladder and course of the urethra, 

 th frequent desire to micturate. These have been promptly relieved by 

 e use of tincture Apis, and in two cases of chronic disease of long stand- 

 g, a permanent cure was effected, following the relief of these unpleasant 

 mptoms. — Specific Diagnosis and Medication, nth ed., p. 83. 



Apis now became increasingly a favorite, and has since been 

 ;ed by thovisands of physicians who consider it invaluable in the 

 eatment of disease when it is properly indicated. One of the most 

 mprehensive articles on the subject, titled "A Study of Apis," from 

 e pen of Dr. Franklin Pierre Davis, appeared in the Medical Sum- 

 ary, 1908, from which we extract as follows : 



/ Franklin Pierre Davis, M. D.: 



"At the present time the tincture of the honey bee is one of the lead- 

 g remedies of both the Homoeopathic and Eclectic schools of practice. 



"Wolf, writing on this remedy in 1858, said that, after aconite, apis is 

 e most comprehensive and universal useful remedy that we possess. 



"After these centuries of use, the composition of the poison of the bee 

 mains unsolved. And while to-day we do not know just what the active 

 inciple may be, yet from my experience with the remedy, I am willing 

 confirm Wolfs statement; for if there is any remedy that will give 

 ompt and expected results when properly exhibited according to its spe- 

 ic indications, it is apis. 



"Construction of the Sting. — A study of the mechanical construction and 

 leration of the sting of the bee is interesting, not only in showing the 

 anner in which the bee is enabled to force the poison into the object 

 ung, but it gives us a clew to the proper mode of extracting the sting. 

 f close examination of a sting that has been torn from a bee, we find a 

 mdle of muscles near by and partly enveloping the poison bag. For some 

 Tie after the sting has been detached from the body of the bee, these 

 uscles will work with a pump-like motion, working the sting further into 

 e wound. After the sting has been removed from the flesh, if it should 

 ick to the clothing in such a way as to again come in contact with the 

 sh, it will commence working again, pulling itself into the flesh and 

 nptying the poison into the wound, the same as if the living bee was 

 arking it. 



"Composition of the Poison. — The elements that enter into the compo- 

 :ion of the poison of the honey bee are unknown. It is probably a vege- 

 ble poison secreted from the honey, and pollen that constitutes their food, 

 it is well known that the poison is much more pungent when the bees 

 e working in the fields and accumulating stores largely than it is when 

 ey are at rest in the winter months. It is generally during the basswood 

 oom that we get those severe stings which draw blood and show a large 

 lite spot around the wound. It is also said that the poison of the black 

 e is more toxic than that of the other varieties. 



"All authorities that I have found have been unable to give any light 



I the composition of the poison other than to say that it is generally con- 



lered that formic acid is the principal element. It is, however, difficult 



find actual authority for even the presence of formic acid. Selzer has 



own that the venom is not due to formic acid alone. 



"From experiments made by Phisalix on sparrows, it has been proven 

 at there are three distinct kinds of effects from the poison; a local iti- 

 mmation, convulsions, and somnolence or stupefaction. In these experi- 

 snts the poison apparatus was takep from the bees and mixed with water, 



5 



