350 THE BBK-KEEPER'S GUIDE ; 



rubbed, for we should not grasp it with the finger-nails, as 

 that crowds more poison into the wound. If the pain is such 

 as to prove troublesome, apply a little ammonia. The venom is 

 an acid, and is neutralized by the alkali. A strong solution 

 of saltpeter I have found nearly as good to relieve pain as the 

 ammonia. Ice-cold water drives the blood from any part of 

 our body to which it is applied, and so it often gives relief to 

 quickly immerse the part stung in very cold water. In case 

 horses are badly stung, as sometimes happens, they should be 

 taken as speedily as possible into a barn (a man, too, may 

 escape angry bees by entering a building), where the bees will 

 seldom follow, then wash the horses in soda water, and cover 

 with blankets wet in cold water. Cows picketed many rods 

 from the apiary, in the line of flight to a spring, have been 

 stung to death. Unlike horses, cows will not run off. This 

 fact surely suggests caution. 



A wash or lotion, " Apifuge," is praised in England as a 

 preventive of stings. The hands and face are simply washed 

 in it. I have tried it, but could see no advantage. The sub' 

 stances used are oil of wintergreen or methyl salicylate. 



THE SWEAT THEORY. 



It is often stated that sweaty horses and people are obnox- 

 ious to the bees, and hence almost sure targets for their barbed 

 arrows. In warm weather I perspire most profusely, yet am 

 scarcely ever stung, since I have learned to control my nerves. 

 I once kept my bees in the front yard— they looked beautiful 

 on the green lawn — within two rods of a main thoroughfare, 

 and not infrequently let my horse, covered with sweat upon 

 my return from a drive, crop the grass while cooling off, right 

 in the same yard. Of course, there was some danger, though 

 less as I always kept careful watch, but I never knew my horse 

 to get stung. Why, then, the theory ? May not the more 

 frequent stings be consequent upon the warm, nervous condi- 

 tion of the iYidividual ? The man is more ready to strike and 

 jerk, the horse to stamp and switch. The switching of the 

 horse's tail, like the whisker trap of a full beard, will anger 

 even a good-natured bee. I should dread the motions more 

 than the sweat. 



