218 APIS LIG'JSTICA. 



might be domesticated with greater advantage than even the Apis 

 melUfica. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — Honey is demulcent, and 

 externally detergent and stimulant. It agrees in its alimentary 

 properties with sugar, and in some countries forms a nutritive 

 article of diet. According to Azara, one of the chief articles of 

 food of the Indians who live in the woods of Paraguay, is wild 

 honey.* With some constitutions honey proves a pretty active 

 aperient, and sometimes produces colic, and other disagreeable 

 symptoms, in which case, as Dr. Thompson justly observes, simple 

 syrup should be preferred in all cases for forming medicinal prepa- 

 rations for internal use. Combined with vinegar, either alone or 

 with the impregnation of the active matter of vegetables, it forms 

 the kind of composition named Oxymel. In pharmacy, it is occa- 

 sionally employed as a means of blending with and suspending 

 insoluble substances in water. As a local stimulant and detergent 

 it forms a useful adjunct to gargles, in cynanche, and apthous 

 ulcerations of the mouth and fauces. Combined with verdigris it 

 is applied as a stimulant and escharotic to foul ulcers. The empi- 

 rical nostrum sold under the name of balsam of honey, is merely 

 pound tincture of benzoin of the pharmacopoeias. 



Wax has been given internally in diarrhaea and dysentery, in the 

 form of emulsion, combined by means of soap, with mucilaginous 

 mixtures ; but it is chiefly employed in the composition of oint- 

 ments and cerates. 



Off. Prep. — Mel. Despumatum, L. D. Mel. Boracis, L. 

 Mel. Rosee, L. D. Oxymel simplex, L. D. Oxy. Colchici, D. 

 Oxy. Scillae, L. D. 



APIS LIGUSTICA, Spinol.— Nearly similar to the 

 preceding; the first two segments of the abdomen, 

 except the posterior margin, and the base of the third, 

 pale reddish. — Inhabits Italy. — Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat. 

 i. 47. 



* Voy, dans f Amer . Merid. i. 162. 



