REJIEDIES FOR THE STING OF A BEE. 207 



loose in a bee-yard, was attacked by a few bees. In trying 

 to defend himself against them by kicking and rolling he up- 

 set one hive and then another, till tens of thousands of bees 

 assailed him, and the poor animal was stung to death before 

 his owner could come to the rescue. We were informed by an 

 eye-witness that although the carcass remained unburied two 

 days, neither dogs, crows, buzzards nor any of the usual 

 scavengers of decaymg flesh, attempted to feed upon it, so 

 great was the amount of poison (79) instilled into it by the 

 revengeful bees. 



401. The stmg of a bee (7S) upon some persons, pro- 

 duces very painful, and even dangerotis effects. We have 

 often noticed that, while those whose systems are not sensi- 

 tive to the venom, are rarely molested by bees, they seem to 

 take a malicious pleasure in stinging those upon whom their 

 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 smell of their own poison (87) produces a very irri- 

 tating 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 com- 

 pany — yea, though a bee hath stricken but your clothes, es- 

 pecially in hot weather — you were best be packing as fast aa 

 you can, for the other bees, smelling the rank flavor of the 

 poison, will come about you as thick as hail." 



REMEDIES FOR THE STINO OF A BEE. 



402. If only a few of the host of cures, so zealously ad- 

 vocated, 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- 

 er rather push — the sting out of the wound as quickly as pos- 

 sible. When torn from the bee, the poison-bag and all the 

 muscles which control the sting accompany it; and it pene- 

 trates deeper and deeper into the flesh, injecting continually 



