CORRECT MANIPULATION 69 



It is of course to be expected that occasionally 

 the apiarist will be stung, although his chief 

 troubles will commence if his bees sting the neigh- 

 bours. It is the fear of stings that deters thou- 

 sands from taking up this most fascinating pur- 

 suit, but really a sting is a mere nothing to most 

 bee-keepers. It is all pure imagination chiefly. 

 The flesh swells a little with some people on 

 first being stung, but even this discomfort usually 

 disapp/ears after a short time, until except for a 

 little momentary pain there is no ill effect what- 

 ever. In many cases I often receive stings with- 

 out noticing them. There are exceptional cases 

 where people are constitutionally unable to bear 

 the effect of stings, and where a single / sting even 

 causes most serious symptoms, but such instances 

 are very rare. 



With regard to treatment, most apiarists after 

 removing the sting ignore it altogether, but if it 

 be thought advisable, a little ammonia, washing 

 blue, or soda may be rubbed on the affected part. 

 Brisk rubbing should be strictly avoided, or a 

 painful swelling may be caused, owing to the 

 diffusion of the poison. The sting must always 

 be removed at once by a scratching motion of 

 the finger-nail. 



Beginners in bee-keeping should try and gain a 

 fair idea of the condition of a colony from out- 

 ward indications. This knowledge can only be 

 acquired by close observation and experience, but 

 it will save a considerable amount of manipulation, 



