A LIVING HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9433, 1 May 1909, Page 2

A LIVING HYPODERMIC SYRINGE.

That rheumatism may be relieved by injections of bee-poison, administered by the bees themselves through the instruments provided by natnre for that purpose, has long been known, although not many physicians have been radical enough to use the method in their current practise. A recent inquiry into the origin of this odd “bee-cure” and its actual results, confirms the popular tradition , of its efficacy. Says Dr. A. Oartaz, "writing in La Nature: —“It is a popular belief, in many parts of franco and other countries, that ' the stings of bees constitute reign remedy. The belief which, as we shall see, is justified by authentic facts, probably arose from some accident. A bee-keeper, or a simple peasant, may have been stung by a bee and have noted the disappearance of a rheumatic pain of long stunning. Such was the case of Mr De Giaspa- . Tin as reported by Dr. Desjardins, fifty years ago in L’Union Medioale. A rheumatic affection of the joints had caused him continual suffering, and he had in vain used the waters of A lx and St. Laurent, when he was one day seriously stung by a wasp in bis right wrist. The arm, which had been very painful, swelled at onqe, but the pain, at the same time, disappeared. Seeing this happy result, the victim caused himself tp be stung on other parts of the body and the rheumatism was cured. “It would be difficult to ascertain at what epoch this new treatment took its place as an acknowledged method; bee-oultnre dates back to the earliest times, and it is piobahle that the accident just described happened in other circumstances, A professor in Oxford University, Dr. L„Ainly Walker, has for some months / past been investigating this subject, ; and the data that be has gathered from physicians and patients indi- , cate clearly that the poison of bees . has a quieting action on rheumatic pains Besides precise ... facts. Dr. Walker has numerous indioations from hearsay evidence, Physicans report that the belief is Li 'widespread its the United States and 1 - in Cornwall, Shropshire, and other &; English counties. . . The french v and English journals of apiculture ■; have a’so published numerous ex- . ample s.” ’ ' Precise evidence on this matter has n ‘ also been furnished by Dr. Toro, a V practising physician ot Marburg, in Sfcyria. In 1888 he published a very clear series of observations on the effects of this treatment, pSince that time he has continued to treat nnmf’l crons patients by this method, and Bths number of his cases is now above

seven hundred. The writer saya of bis observations: — .

“According to Dr. Tore, the pain due to the sting is often severe, but' if the precaution is taken to withdraw toe sting from the wound, it soon disappears. In three or four hours tlia irritant effect gives place to a swelling which extends around the sting. . . • Alter a series of three or four operations, the patient acquires a real immunity, which persists about six months,, and prevents irritation or swelling : at subsequent inoculations. This immunity has been remarked by all bee-keepers. For rheumatic patients a series of stings is necessary to cause immunity. Som6tim6s a singl6 tr©at* meut is enough; with one patient treated at Marbnrg eight stings effected an immediate cure . . . • Generally, however, and especially in old cases, there must be hundreds. ... “It would be interesting to determine the curative agent in bees’ stings. Is it the active ' principle discovered by Phialix? Is it simply the formic acid that the liquid contains? Dr, Lamarohe- believes that this latter hypothesis is correct, and he has supported his view by injecting patients with formic acid hypodermically. A woman attacked with acute rheumatism of the shoulder, which prevented the slightest movement, was cured in two sittings by injections of one grain of formic acid. Professor Walker would be inclined to agree with this opinion if it had been thoroughly demonstrated, as some of his correspondents assert, that after the absorption of formites or of formic acid, they had seen painful and deep-seated rheumatism disappear. I think that the cure is rather due to the introduction, in successive and continued doses, of a special toxin contained in the beepoison, which neutralises the infectious tbxins that are the cause of the rheumatismal process. “Whatever may be the interpretation of the facts, it is certain, at any rate, that bee-stings have in certain oases, we may not venturejto say all, although this is Dr. Tere’s conviction given decisive curative results, when ordinary treatment has given no relief. It must also be aaid that the stings of these insects have sometimes occasioned serious injury . . but in the case of so serious a malady which resists so many curative agents, external or internal, we can afford to run some risks, taking the precaution not to apply the remedy except under expert advice.