160 PHYTOTOXIXS AND ZOOTOXINS 



discliarge at the apices of a pair of specialized claws that take the 

 place of the first pair of legs. The nature of this poison seems not 

 to have been investigated. Numerous chemical substances are de- 

 scribed as secreted by other glands of these animals, including prus- 

 sic acid and a camphor-like matter (see v. Fiirth). 



BEE POISON 



Bee poison has been better studied than most insect poisons, begin- 

 ning with the work of Paul Bert (1865). It is secreted by the glands 

 into a small poison sac, and stored up until ejected. Cloez found 

 that bee poison was precipitated by ammonia, tannin, and platinic 

 chloride, and Langer proved it to be a non-volatile organic base. As 

 excreted, it is acid, contains 30 per cent, of solids, and one honey-bee 

 secretes 0.0003-0.0004 gm. It contains formic acid and much pro- 

 tein, but it has been stated that the poison is protein-free, and is not 

 destroyed by heat (100°), weak acids, or alkalies. On the other hand, 

 it is said to be destroyed by proteolytic enzymes, which would indicate 

 that it is of protein nature. Hemolysis is produced both in v-itro 

 and in vivo with all sorts of blood, but to very different degrees, 

 thus resembling spider toxin. The hemolytic action is greatly in- 

 creased by the presence of lecithin, forming a toxolecithid like "cobra 

 lecithid. " ''^ Locally bee poison causes necrosis, with marked hyper- 

 emia and edema. A 4500 gm. dog was killed by intravenous injection 

 of 6 c.c. of a 1.5 per cent, solution of pure poison (Langer).*'*' 



Immunity is undoubtedly possible, for bee-keepers frequently show 

 a great decrease in susceptibility. On the other hand, abnormally 

 great susceptibility is frequently seen, some cases of fatal poisoning 

 having been obsei'ved.*''^ 



Wasps and Hornets presumably produce poisons similar to those of 

 the bees. A study by Bertarelli and Tedeschi '^'"^ establishes this for a 

 species of wasp (Vespa crahro L) . 



Ants also produce formic acid, a fact so well known that it has 

 come to be considered that this is the source of their toxicit.y. Von 

 Fiirth, however, suggests the probability that ant poison, like that of 

 the bees, owes its chief effects to other more complex, unkno\vn poi- 

 sons.*'^ 



«5 Mor<jenroth and Carpi. Borl. klin. Wocli., lOOfi (43). 1424. 



66 Arch. exp. Path. u. Pharm., 1890 (,3S). .3.S1; Arcli. intornat. Pliannac. ot 

 Ther., 1800 (6), 181. 



«7 Hospitalstidcndp, 100,5, No. 27. 



«7aCVnt. f. Pakt.. 101,3 (68). .300. 



fisAn at.tompt by P.arratt (Ann. Trop. IVfcd. and Parasit(,l.. 1010 (4). 177) to 

 olitain a poison from culex mosqnitos was nnsnooossful. Tlio Iwdios of "black 

 flios" contain an activo poison tliat could not bo idontifiod by Rtokos (,Tonr. C\it. 

 Dis., 1014 (32), 8,30), beyond thai it is insolul)lo in alcohol, which docs not 

 inactivate it, and that it is destroyed by trypsin. 



