fly away contentedly if the child will but keep reasonably still. This 

 is in fact true of adults, though rarely will they allow a bee to remain 

 still upon their person, even though it be merely resting or recovering 

 its breath. 



Contact with animals immediately before undertaking mani- 

 pulations is also unwise as the odour acquired, although perhaps 

 not apparent at the time, is quickly detected by the bee with the 

 usual consequences. 



A visit to the hairdresser is also a bad prelude to bee-keeping. 

 The aroma of hair oils and perfumes, while no doubt pleasant enough 

 to oneself is repugnant to the bee, and the odour may persist suffi- 

 ciently strong for several days to cause the bees intense annoyance, 

 even though the hair b'e covered by a hat. They dive at the hair if 

 unprotected or charge against the veil if one is being worn. Getting 

 bees entangled in the hair is an unpleasant experience, and unless 

 they are quicly removed may involve stings on the head. Care 

 should be taken not to get panicky in such circumstances, but to 

 go quickly to cover and there to remove the intruder. 



These cases are mentioned as examples of the ways in which bees 

 can become irritated and so incited to sting, but it does not follow 

 that they necessarily will do so every time. Odours of any kind are 

 objectionable, but they may not of themselves be sufficiently pungent 

 to aifect the bees, particularly if they are busily engaged on a heavy 

 aectar flow and furthermore, of course, depending on one's proximity 

 to the bees, and whether they are vicious or docile in nature. 



Persons who take up bee-keeping only to find that they suffer 

 severe consequences as a result of stings and become faint, having 

 to he down or go to bed, will realise that they are among those who 

 are super-sensitive to bee venom. In such a case, provided the effects 

 are not too serious, they may continue with their bees, but great 

 care should be taken to secure adequate personal protection against 

 the risk of getting stung, and it is unhkely, therefore, that they will 

 enjoy immunity. There are many who do keep bees in these cir- 

 cumstances and are perfectly happy in their enjoyment of the craft. 

 Some people take a long time, even up to 10 or 20 years, to secure 

 permanent immunity, and until then they will, of course, suffer the 

 normal consequences of a bee sting. 



If, however, the symptoms consist of extreme giddiness, fainting, 

 palpitations or collapse, medical aid should be obtained immediately. 

 Moreover, if the effects are repeated on a subsequent attack of 

 stinging, there is unfortunately no alternative, but to give up keeping 

 bees altogether. Those who suffer from high blood pressure or 

 heart trouble should in any case seek medical advice before starting 

 to keep bees at all. To all these folk who are sensitive to bee venom, 

 there is now available an artificial means of acquiring immunity 

 which is described below. 



Normally, however, the average person is not particularly 

 susceptible to being stung provided that the usual precautions are 

 taken and observed, and once immunity to the effects of a sting is 

 attained, there is nothing to worry about and much to enjoy. 



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