EXAMINING AND HANDLING BEES —Chapter IX. 
for stings. To rub or touch the wound only seems to increase the swelling. 
Medicinal applications are useless because the puncture is too small to 
admit medicine, at least in any effective amount. In cases of severe sting- 
ing, hot cloths may be effectively applied to relieve the pain. 
How to Handle Frames. 
Hardly less important than knowing how to handle the bees without 
inviting stings, is a knowledge of how to handle the frame properly. 
After removing the inner cover, if the frames are self-spacing, insert 
the hive-tool between the side of the hive and the end-bar of the-first frame. 
Crowd the set of frames tightly together against the far side of the hive, 
repeating this operation for the other end of the frames. Now pry the 
first frame back toward the side of the hive when it is ready to lift out. If, 
on account of attachments of comb to the side of the hive or bulged combs, 
the first frame can not be readily removed, the second or ever the third 
frame may be taken out first. 
For first inspection it is better to take the first or the second frame, 
as the queen is less likely to be found there at the side of the hive. If she 
should be on the first frame removed, 
she might be injured by being rubbed 
or crushed when the first frame is 
drawn from between closely adjacent 
combs. : 
Lift the frame by taking hold of 
both ends of the top-bar, keeping it in 
a horizontal position while examining 
the side turned toward the beekeeper. 
To examine the opposite side, no 
frame should be turned directly over 
with the bottom-bar remaining horizon- 
tal, for if the comb is heavy with hon- 
ey it may break from the frame, and 
if the queen should chance to be on 
= the comb being examined she is quite 
Position 1—Frame is held horizontal likely to fall to the ground and be in- 
mnie ane being examined. comb is  jured, since it is difficult for a laying 
queen to keep her footing on a comb 
so turned. 
Note the accompanying illustrations for exact directions for handling 
frames. 
The frame is held by the ends of the top-bar horventaly ‘in front of 
one while examining the first side of comb. (See position 1.) To turn the 
other side into view, begin by raising the right end above the left, to 
bring the top-bar into a perpendicular position (see position 2); next re- 
volve the frame, now perpendicular, with the top-bar as an axis, until the 
opposite side of the comb is turned toward the beginner (see position 3) ; 
now the right hand may be lowered to a position level with the left hand, 
thus leaving the frame still in a vertical position, and still held by the 
ends of the top-bar, but with the bottom-bar now at the top (see position 
4) instead of at the bottom, as in the original position, so that the beekeep- 
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