Many learned scientist have investigated the chemical structure 

 of bee venom and its reactions. Of these the best known is by 

 Professor F. Flury of Wurzburg, who in 1,920 . analysed it as 

 follows: — * " — " 



(1) A nitrogenous compound of the indol series. 



(2) Choline. 



(3) Glycerine. 



(4) Phosphoric acid. 



(5) Palmitic acid. 



(6) A heavy fatty acid. 



(7) A lightweight fatty acid — probably butyric acid. 



(8) A non-nitrogenous portion which represents the active 

 part of the venom and is probably a cyclic acid anhydride 

 causing inflammation and blisters. 



Bee venom also contains 1 to 1^ per cent, of histamine. 



The origin of these various ingredients with respect to the 

 supplying glands has not been determined, nor the nature of the 

 chemical reactions, if any, which take place when the two poison 

 supplies unite to form venom. The effects of bee venom on the 

 human body will be described presently. 



All these constituents combine to form the powerful poison 

 which is the venom of the honey-bee. The amount of each ingredient 

 varies with different kinds of bees and indeed is not even constant 

 in nature throughout the season. It has, for instance, been suggested 

 that the sting of the Itahan bee is milder than others. Whether 

 this is so under comparable conditions has yet to be proved.^ 

 The poison develops with age and in young bees, therefore, very 3 

 little venom is available until the poison glands mature. This point 

 should be remembered when handUng bees. An emerging bee is 

 practically free of poison, but it quickly develops during the next 

 few days. The generation of venom increases until about the 

 fourteenth day. After that it remains constant, but later begins to 

 deteriorate with advancing age. Up till the period when the bee 

 does guard duties it is able to replenish any supply of venom used 

 up in stinging. After that age she is unable to make good any loss. 



It will be observed that formic acid which is so often stated to 

 be a constituent part, and according to some experts a major portion 

 of the venom, is in fact entirely absent. This feature also disposes 

 of the attractive story (which can be further disproved by visual 

 observation) that the bees insert their stings through the capping 

 of sealed honey, and inject a drop of formic acid so as to provide 

 a preservative. 



In the queen the venom is slightly creamy, and with advancing 

 age becomes thicker and congealed so that it cannot flow. This 



*The latest analysis of bee venom, is given in the E. African Medical Journal, 

 Vol. XIX, 1942. 



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