HONEY BEE.
Introduction
Apis contains more than the poison of the honey bee, Apium virus, for in preparing the remedy the live bees are put in a bottle and after being irritated by shaking, five times their weight of dilute alcohol is poured over them and allowed to remain a week before filtering off for the resulting tincture, which represents in drug power the 1st.
The following is from Hering: “Among all our drugs this is the one of which we have the most different preparations. There is but one right kind. It is the pure poison, which is obtained by grasping the bee with a small forceps, and catching the minute drop of virus suspended from the point of the sting. It is absurd to dispute the solubility of the poison in alcohol, and foolish to take the whole bee with all the foreign matter and impurities, which color the tincture.”
The symptoms as given in Allen’s Encyclopaedia include those made from the provings, whether from the virus alone or from the whole bee, as well as those caused by the sting of the bee.
Apis was first proved by Dr. Frederick Humphries, later the proprietor of Humphries’ Specifies, in 1852.
Metcalf says: “We are principally indebted for the proving of this very admirable remedy, to the indefatigable zeal and perseverance of our colleague, Dr. F. Humphries.”
The subject of animal poisons and their effects, has given rise to a great deal of discussion as to whether or no they were inert when introduced into the stomach or mucous membranes; it is pretty well conceded now, however, that they do act when introduced through the digestive tract, although less quickly and not in as marked a degree as when introduced into the blood direct.
Symptoms
I assume that you all know from personal experience some of the prominent symptoms of Apis, including oedematous swelling of the skin, mucous membranes and cellular tissue, and burning, stinging, needle or nettle-like pains.
In addition we have as characteristics of the remedy, an aggravation of all symptoms about 5 P.M., a condition of general sleepiness or stupor and an absence of thirst.
As a rule, the effect travel from the right to the left side of the body, or at least start on the right side (163), and there is usually an intolerance of the heat of the bed (8) or as Dunham puts it, “warmth aggravates; cold relieves,” which latter will include the statement that the pains are relieved by applications of cool or cold water.
It is an important remedy in serous effusions (120).
In erysipelas (68) and in oedematous swellings in general you will find frequent call for it.
In erysipelas, on whatever part of the body it may be, there is inflammation, puffiness and oedematous swelling, a boggy or baggy appearance as if filled with water, which swelling, as a rule, dose not pit on pressure, and is greatly in excess to the amount of pain.
The pains are burning and stinging as if the parts were pricked with pins or needles, and while usually not intense, are especially noticeable on touch when the patient will liken the sensation to being pricked with nettles. With the pains there is a desire for cool applications to the parts.
The erysipelas usually starts on the right side and has a tendency to travel over to the left; commencing about the eye of the right side and spreading across the face to the left side, is a frequent happening.
Apathy, sleeplessness or even unconsciousness, 5 P.M. aggravation and an absence of thirst will serve to make the choice of your remedy more certain.
While lack of thirst is the rule in all Apis cases, there is found, at times, more or less thirst: in such case the condition of stupor and the aggravation in the afternoon will overbalance the presence of thirst and Apis will still be your remedy.
Apis does its work so well and is so seldom disappointing in its results, that I am always pleased when I see symptoms calling for its use; but we must be constantly on our guard lest our fondness for a remedy does not prejudice us in its favor to the exclusion of other more clearly indicated but less well-known remedies.
It is very valuable in erysipelas after operations and in dissecting wounds (62).
In urticaria (201) Apis is frequently called for, the leading indication, as I have found it, being the afternoon aggravation. In addition we have large blotches, with burning and stinging as from nettles.
As a rule Apis patients are not restless, but are apathetic, indifferent or even unconscious; but we may have in hydrocephalus (119) and in meningitis (133) great restlessness and rolling of the head from side to side on the pillow; usually with the stupor in meningeal inflammation we have sudden starts with screaming as from severe pain in the head.
It is of value in meningitis from suppressed eruptions (130), the stupor interrupted by short cries, and in tubercular hydrocephalus (119) it is apt to be your first choice when we have the stupor, occasional crying out and the boring of the head into the pillow.
Apis is to be thought of in mania resulting from suppression of the menses (135), with stupor alternating with attacks of erotic mania, and for “mania from sexual excitement” (Talcott).
The headache of the remedy consists usually of a hot heavy feeling in the head, with congestion and vertigo, worse lying down and closing the eyes (207), and with sudden stabbing pains in different parts of the head.
The headache is “worse in a warm room” (Dunham) and from any motion (96) and almost universally relieved by external pressure of the hands (92) on the forehead especially.
It is a very valuable remedy for a variety of diseases of the eye, including purulent and scrofulous ophthalmias (76) and various forms of inflammation of the cornea, in general characterized by serous exudations, great oedema and sudden stinging pains with, as a rule, relief from the application of cold water.
In inflammation of the lids they are oedematous and often everted so that the lid actually rolls over on to the cheek.
It is to be thought of in muscular asthenopia (72), with sharp, stinging pains on attempting to use the eyes, swelling of the lids, etc.
The tongue of Apis in acute febrile states is red and hot, in diphtheria it is swollen and in scarlet fever it is sometimes cracked, sore and covered with blisters.
We also find a feeling of rawness or as if the edges had been scalded (140) associated with the vesicles or pimples.
In acute glossitis it is of great value, the tongue may be so swollen that it is almost impossible to swallow.
In oedema of the larynx (191), with great distress for breath, Apis is apt to be your first choice.
Also in suspected scarlet fever, with mottled rash on the hard palate, throat oedematous and bright-red, great pain on swallowing and no thirst, Apis is probably the remedy.
Here is a good point from the Handbook: “Coldness of the tip of the nose when the throat begins to be sore is a pretty sure indication for Apis.”
In diphtheria (62) you will probably use this remedy oftener than any other, for as Allen says: “It is almost a specific in true diphtheria, always indicated when the throat is very much swollen and oedematous, with severe stinging pains on attempting to swallow, with great inertia or even complete stupor,” along with the afternoon aggravation and absence of thirst. Do not forget that it is more apt to begin on the right side and from there travel over to the left.
I use Apis as a prophylactic against diphtheria. You have already had your attention called to the difficulties that we encounter in saying and in being able to uphold the statement, that any remedy is of value as a prophylactic against any disease.
The idea held by many of our school, is to use that remedy for a prophylactic that is indicated in the type of the disease that is prevalent or epidemic at the time.
It is a theory that appeals to me as having not only good common sense, but also scientific reasoning back of it, for we do not believe in specifics, or any one remedy or combination of drugs that will cure all cases of disease that have a common name. The only objection that I can bring against it is that it is often impossible to know at the start what remedy is the generally indicated one and by the time you have decided, much valuable time may have been lost.
For all my liking for this theory, I always use Apis as a prophylactic against diphtheria, and while my experience with it has been much too limited to permit it to have great weight, still I have had but one failure up to the present time from its use, and in that instance the patient acknowledged, after he had contracted the disease, that he had not taken his prophylactic regularly.
Keep the idea in mind, use as occasion requires and note the results; you will then be in a position to accept or reject it as the case may be.
If you accept it, do not fail to observe as strict a quarantine as circumstances may admit; if you reject it let it be after failure with the potency of your own make, for my personal experience has been limited to the use of Apis 30th that I ran up from the tincture.
