314: THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



poison produces the most virulent effect. Something in 

 the secretions of such persons may both provoke the 

 attack and render its consequences more severe. 



The smeU of their own poison produces a very irritating 

 effect upon bees. A small portion of it offered to them 

 on a stick, will excite their anger.* " If you are stung," 

 says old Butler, " or any one in the company yea, though 

 a bee hath stricken but your clothes, especially in hot 

 weather you were best be packing as fast as you can, for 

 the other bees, smelling the rank flavor of the poison, will 

 come about you as thick as hail." 



REMEDIES FOR. THE STING OF A BEE. 



If only a few of the host of cures, so zealously advo- 

 cated, could be made effectual, there would be little 

 reason to dread being stung. 



The first thing to be done after being stung, is to pull 

 the sting out of the wound as quickly as possible. When 

 torn from the bee, the poison-bag, and all the muscles 

 which control the sting, accompany it; and.it penetrates 

 deeper and deeper into the flesh, injecting continually 

 more and more poison into the wound. If extracted at 

 once, it will very rarely produce any serious consequences. 

 After the sting is removed, the utmost care should be 

 taken not to irritate the wound by the slightest rubbing. 

 However intense the smarting, and the disposition to 

 apply friction to the wound, it should never be done, for 

 the moment that the blood is put into violent circulation, 

 the poison is quickly diffused over a large part of the 

 system, and severe pain and swelling may ensue. On 

 the same principle, by severe friction, the bite of a mos- 

 quito, even after the lapse of several days, may be made 



* When bees thrust out their stings in a threatening manner, a minute drop of 

 poison can be seen on their points, some of which is occasionally flirted into the 

 eye of the Apiarian, and causes severe irritation. 



