likewise, Apis will prove a curative agent.
In the American Provings, Apis is indicated in this disease by the
following symptoms: "No. 1103, heat all over; the face is red as in
scarlatina; eruption like measles; cough and difficult respiration as in
croup; muttering delirium; 1211, superficial eruptions over the whole
body, resembling measles, with great heat and a reddish-blue
circumscribed flush on the cheeks; 1218, measle-shaped eruption."
If we add to these symptoms the peculiarity inherent in Apis, to cause
catarrhal irritations of the eyes, such as occur during measles, we have
a right to infer that Apis will prove a valuable remedial agent in
measles.
Although common mild measles do not require any medicinal treatment, and
generally get well without any prejudice to the general health;
nevertheless, cases occur where intense ophthalmia, a violent and
racking cough, and the phenomena which appertain to it; an intense
irritation of the internal mucous membrane; diarrh[oe]a; dangerous
prostration of strength; marked stupefaction and various nervous
phenomena render the interference of art desirable. In all such cases, I
have seen good effects from the use of Apis, which differed not only
from the regular course of the disease, but likewise from the effects
which have been witnessed under the operation of other medicines. In
ordinary cases, and without treatment, it takes three, five, seven and
eleven days, before the eyes get well again; but under the use of Apis,
the eyes improve so decidedly in from one to three days, that the eyes
do not require any further treatment; and that even troublesome sequelæ,
such as photophobia; styes which come and go; troublesome lachrymation;
continual redness; swelling and blennorrh[oe]a of the lids; fistulæ
lachrymalis, etc., need not be apprehended.
If Apis has had a chance to exercise its curative action in a case of
measles, we hear nothing of the troublesome, and often so wearing and
racking cough, which so often prevails in measles, and the continuance
of which is accompanied by an increased irritation and swelling of the
respiratory mucous membrane and an increasing alteration of its
secretion, which recurs in paroxysms, assumes a suspicious sound, shows
a tendency to croup and to the development of tuberculosis, and finally
degenerates in whooping-cough, so that epidemic measles and
whooping-cough often go hand in hand. After Apis, the cough speedily
begins to become looser and milder, to loose its dubious character, and
to gradually disappear without leaving a trace behind. If these results
should be confirmed by further experience, we would have attained
additional means of preventing the supervention of whooping-cough in
measles; a triumph of art and science which should elicit our warmest
gratitude.
Any one who knows, how malignant measles, unassisted by art, are
accompanied by deep-seated irritation of the mucous membrane of the
stomach and bowels; how they lead to diarrh[oe]a; to sopor; how they
threaten life by long-lasting and troublesome putrid and typhoid fevers;
and how, if they do not terminate fatally, they result in slow
convalescence, and sometimes in chronic maladies for life, will admit,
on seeing the diarrh[oe]a cease; on beholding the quiet sleep which
patients enjoy; the pleasant and general perspiration; the return of
appetite; the increase of strength, and the complete disappearance of
all putrid and typhoid symptoms, that Apis has indeed triumphed over the
disease.
The following simple proceeding will secure such results: As soon as the
fever has commenced, we prepare the above-mentioned solution of Aconite,
of which we give a small spoonful every hour. If, after using the
Aconite, the eruption breaks out and the fever abates, no further
medication is necessary. If fever and eruption should require further
aid, Apis is to be given, one or two globules of thirtieth potency in
seven dessert-spoonfuls of water, well shaken, a dessert-spoonful
morning and evening; or, if the disease is very acute, every three
hours, which treatment is to be continued until an improvement sets in,
after which the natural reaction of the organism will terminate the
cure.
Sequelæ seldom take place after this kind of treatment; this is
undoubtedly an additional recommendation for the use of Apis. Until this
day I have never seen a secondary disease resulting from measles.
Nevertheless, such sequelæ will undoubtedly occur, for it is
characteristic of the measle-miasm, to rouse latent psoric, sycosic,
syphilitic and vaccinine taints, which afterwards require a specific
anti-psoric treatment. Nevertheless, sequelæ will certainly occur less
frequently after the use of Apis, for which we ought to be thankful. In