.H'NE ir> 1915 



499 



An apiary at Luxor, Egypt. Photographed by W. Percy Chase, Brookline, Mass. 



remedy for these) would not cure it. Physi- 

 cians were consulted, but they gave little 

 relief. 



I soon discovered that working with 

 supers or old hives renewed or increased the 

 poison ; and on making inquiry I learned 

 that propolis poisons some people. My eyes 

 swelled almost shut, and the effect of the 

 poison spread over a considerable portion 

 of my body. The suffering was intense. 



One doctor advised a mild solution of 

 carbolic acid and water, which gave relief; 

 and by increasing the proportion of the 

 acid it would cure it, but often left the skin 

 in an inflamed condition. I wrote to the bee 

 journals and beemen whom I knew, but 

 none knew of a remedy. Some of the 

 propolis was sent to the Department of 

 Agriculture for examination, but they re- 

 ported no poison could be found. 



That first season we averaged about $10 

 per colony. It was an unusual season. The 

 next season a doctor advised me to try su- 

 gar of lead and tincture of opium for the 

 poisoning. This I did. Two or tlu^ee and 

 sometimes four applications of this will 

 cure it. I use it in about the following 

 proportions: One teasponful of sugar of 

 lead; one tablespoonful tincture of opium; 

 about six ounces of water. Shake thorough- 

 ly, and ai)ply with a small clotli or sponge. 



If too strong it will smart and burn ; if too 

 weak, more applications are required to 

 cure. 



At the end of the third season the writer 

 sold out, Mr. Corey continuing in the busi- 

 ness. We were living in the Plateau Valley, 

 Colorado. Part of that winter and the 

 following summer were spent in California. 

 While there I applied propolis to my arm, 

 and learned that it would poison me in 

 California as in Colorado. However, the 

 lure of the bee was too strong, and I re- 

 turned to Colorado and from there removed 

 to my present location in Utah, where I 

 engaged in the production of extracted hon- 

 ey. In producing extracted honey I am 

 not poisoned as much nor as severely as 

 when producing comb honey. 



Since coming here I have secured several 

 valuable recipes for the relief of propolis 

 poisoning. 



Tlie one I prize most highly is a powder 

 — camphor, half a drachm; oxide of zinc, 

 one ounce; starch, one ounce. Dust the 

 affected parts well, and, unless it is a severe 

 case, relief and a cure will be the result. 

 This powder can be used about the eyes and 

 other tender portions of the body without 

 irritation; but it is well not to get it into 

 the eye. 



