of the hive. Any bees which may drop from the frame may then 
walk into the hive without disturbance. It is best not to dislodge 
bees from the combs unnecessarily. 
With one frame removed any other frames may be removed with 
less difficulty. 
During the examination, should the bees show a decided dis- 
position to come to the top of the frames, gentle smoking should 
be used to keep them down out of the way. 
When the examination is finished care should be used in replac- 
ing the last frame in order that bees be not killed or angered. Should 
many bees be on the last comb replaced they may be shaken in front 
of the hive out of the way and allowed to run in. 
STINGS AND REMEDIES 
Much stinging in handling bees is unnecessary and it is possi- 
ble to work with them without receiving stings. However, the extreme 
care and amount of protection necessary to insure entire freedom 
from stings results in the practical beekeeper using less care and 
protection and taking a few stings. , 
The effect of stings varies in different persons, and there is de- 
veloped in many persons a certain amount of immunity to the 
effects of the sting poison. There seem to be no grounds for the 
belief that the pain is less to an old beekeeper than to a new one 
when the same amount of poison is received. 
That part of the stinging apparatus of honey bees which enters 
the flesh of its victim is composed of three horny parts. Two of 
these are armed with barbs. These are held together by an incom- 
plete sheath along which the barbed parts glide as they are alter- 
nately driven into the flesh by muscles. The union of these three 
parts forms a canal leading to the tip and connecting at the base 
with the poison sac. Through this canal the poison is injected 
into the wound made by the sting. The longer the sting is allowed 
to remain in the flesh the deeper becomes the wound and the greater 
the amount of poison injected. If, therefore, the sting is removed 
quickly the unpleasant results will be less. 
Experienced beekeepers acquire the habit of striking the hand 
or other part stung with a glancing blow the instant the prick 
of the sting is felt, killing the bee and dragging the sting from 
the flesh at the same time. The attempt should never be made to 
remove the sting by grasping it between the thumb and finger. The 
poison sac, which is torn from the bee when it stings, as well as 
the muscles which control it, is so small in proportion to the fingers 
and so close to the skin that in the attempt to grasp it, its entire 
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