Apis will likewise afford speedy and certain help.
Many symptoms in the American Provings confirm this statement. More
particularly 1198 to 1210, and 1232 to 35: "very soon thick nettle-rash
over the whole body, itching a good deal, passing off after sleeping
soundly; violent inflammation and pressure over the whole body; friction
brought out small white spots resembling musquito-bites; suddenly an
indescribable stinging sensation over the whole body, with white and red
spots in the palms of the hands, on the arms and feet; her Whole body
was covered with itching and burning swollen streaks, after which the
other troubles disappeared; swelling of the face and body; the parts are
covered with a sort of blotches somewhat paler than the ordinary color
of the skin; eruption over the whole body resembling nettle-rash, with
itching and burning; nettle-rash in many cases; spots on the nape of the
neck and forehead, resembling nettle-rash under the skin; consequences
of repelled urticaria; whitish, violently itching swellings of the skin,
on the head and nape of the neck, like nettle-rash; after the rash
disappeared, the whole of the right side was paralyzed, with violent
delirium even unto rage; after taking Apis the eruption appeared in
abundance, and the delirium abated."
These provings have been abundantly confirmed by my own experience. The
use of Apis in these eruptions has been followed in my hands by the most
satisfactory results; and I feel justified in recommending Apis as a
most efficient remedy in these diseases, which are still wrapt in a good
deal of obscurity. An additional source of satisfaction to have obtained
more means of relieving human suffering. The experienced Neuman writes,
in his Special Therapeutics, 2d Edit., Vol. I., Section 2, p. 681, about
urticaria: "Howsoever unimportant a single eruption of urticaria may be,
it becomes disagreeable and troublesome by its constant repetition,
which is not dangerous, but exceedingly disturbing. It would be
desirable to be acquainted with a safe method of curing this eruption,
but so far, it has been sought for in vain." The same physician,
speaking of pemphigus, writes in the same place, that its etiology,
prognosis and treatment, are still very dubious; that it leads to
extensive chronic sufferings, and often terminates fatally; and that no
specific remedy is known for this disease. The more frequent
opportunities we have of observing both these diseases in different
individuals, the more frequently we observe them in conjunction with
serious chronic maladies characterized by some specific chronic miasm,
or in conjunction with the most penetrating and disturbing emotions,
such as fright and its consequences; the more frequently we observe the
sudden appearance and disappearance of such pustules, alternating with
corresponding improvements or exacerbations in the internal organism,
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 tormenting,
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 urticaria and pemphigus are
identical in essence; this fact is richly substantiated by the
hom[oe]opathic 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 its course, or whether
the eruption does not show itself more feebly than before, or if the
cure is not evidenced by some other favorable change. In the former case
the medicine should be permitted to act still further; in the latter
case, another dose of Apis 30 should be given, after which the result
has to be carefully watched. In all benign cases, more particularly if
no other means of treatment had been resorted to before, this management
will suffice. If this should not be the case, if the eruption should
appear again, we may rest assured that a psoric miasm lurks in the
organism, and that an anti-psoric treatment has to be resorted to. The
best anti-psoric under these circumstances, is Sulphur 30, one pellet,
provided this drug has not yet been abused; or Causticum 30, one pellet,
if such an abuse has taken place. Syphilis may likewise complicate the
disease, in which case Mercurius 30, one pellet, may be given; or, if
Mercury had been previously taken in excessive doses, Mercurius 6000,
one globule.
After one or the other of these remedies, the symptoms should be
carefully observed without doing anything else, with a view of
instituting whatever treatment may afterwards be necessary, we wind up
the treatment with another dose of Apis 30, one pellet, after which, the
organic power is permitted to complete the cure. The result is, that the
most difficult and complicated cases yield perfectly to such treatment,
which is based upon the strictest scientific principles.