APID^E — BEES. 193 



To cure the stings of Bees, we have the following remedies : 

 "Rue," says Pliny, "is an hearbe as medicinable as the best 

 . . . and is available against the stings of Bees, Hornets, 

 and Wasps, and against the poison of the Cantharides and 

 Salamanders.^ 



"Yea, and it is an excellent thing for them that be stung, 

 to take the very Bees in drinke ; for it is an approved 

 cure.'^ 



"Baulme is a most present remedy not only against their 

 stings, but also of Wespes, Spiders, and Scorpions.-^ 



"The Laurell, both leafe, barke, and berrie, is by nature 

 hot; and applied as a liniment, be singular good for the 

 pricke or sting of Wasps, Hornets, and Bees.* 



" For the sting of Bees, Wasps, and Hornets, the Howlat 

 (owlet) is counted a soveraigne thing, by a certaine antipa- 

 thic in nature.^ 



" Moreover, as many as have about them the bill of a 

 Woodspeck (Woodpecker) when they come to take honey 

 out of the hive, shall not be stung by Bees."^ 



It is said that if a man suffers himself to be stung by Bees, 

 he will find that the poison will produce less and less effect 

 upon his system, till, finally, like Mithridates of old, he will 

 appear to almost thrive upon poison itself. When Lang- 

 stroth first became interested in Bees, according to his state- 

 ment, a sting was quite a formidable thing, the pain being 

 often intense, and the wound swelling so as sometimes to 

 obstruct his sight. But, at length, however, the pain was 

 usually slight, and, if the sting was quickly extracted, no 

 unpleasant consequences ensued, even if no remedies were 

 used. Huish speaks of seeing the bald head of Bonner, a 

 celebrated practical Apiarian, covered with stings, which 

 seemed to produce upon him no unpleasant effects. The 

 Rev. Mr. Kleine advises beginners to suffer themselves to be 

 stung frequently, assuring them that, in two seasons, their 

 systems will become accustomed to the poison. An old 

 English Apiarian advises a person who has been stung, to 



1 Kat. Hist., XX. 13. HolL, p. 5fi. M. 



2 Jbid., Holl., p. 95. A. 



3 Ibid., xxi. 20. HolL, p. 106. K. 



4 Ihid., xxiii. 18. Holl., p. 173. A. 



5 Ibid., xxix. 4. HolL, p. 361. D. 

 e Ibid., XXX. 16. HolL, p. 399. F. 



