Diagnosis

Urticaria ought not to be confounded with any other disease. The sudden appearance of eruption and its capricious character, the tingling sensation, the presence of wheals, gastric disturbance, and irritability of skin are absolutely diagnostic.

Frankworsky urges flaggellation of the skin with nettles as a very efficient remedy in anaesthesia, paralysis, and neuralgia. He has witnessed good effects from the same in locomotor ataxia. In asthma, dyspnoea, amenorrhoea, virile impotence, and rheumatic pains, it regulates the disorder­ed functions. In favour of this procedure he cites the rapi­dity of its action, its innocuousness even after prolonged use, and the total absence of all irritation of the kidneys arising from it. It leaves no scars, and gives rise to no sup­purating surfaces on the skin. The flagellation may be either local or general and should be continued until bullae form. Its action is stimulating and refreshing.