THE POISOK OF THE HONEY-BEE. 49 



fright and its consequences; the more frequently 

 we observe the sudden appearance and disappear- 

 ance of such pustules, alternating with corresponding 

 improvements or exacerbations in the internal or- 

 ganism, where we have to look on utterly powerless, 

 as it were, the more uneasy do we feel at the 

 mysterious nature of this malady, which, during 

 the period of organic vigor, seems to be a sort of 

 trifling derangement, somewhat like urticaria, but 

 which, as the vital energies become prostrated by 

 age, becomes more and more searching and tor- 

 menting, breaks forth again and again, exhausting 

 the vital juices and leading irresistibly to a fatal 

 termination; a result which is particularly apt to 

 take place during old age, although I have likewise 

 observed it, but rarely, among new-born infants. 



These developments lead us to suspect that urti- 

 caria and pemphigus are identical in essence ; this 

 fact is richly substantiated by the homoeopathic law 

 which furnishes identical means of cure for either 

 of these affections. In either case, if the vital forces 

 are prostrated, and the sensitiveness of the organic 

 reaction is considerable, one pellet of Apis 30, and, 

 if there is considerable resistance to overcome, two 

 pellets shaken with six dessert-spoonfuls of water, a 

 spoonful night and morning, is all that should be 

 done, after which, all further treatment should be 

 discontinued as long as the improvement continues 

 or the skin remains clear from all eruptions. If 

 the improvement cease or the eruption should 

 reappear, we have in the first place to examine 



whether the improvement will not speedily resume 



4 



