208 HANDLING BEES. 



more and more poison into the womid. If extracted at once, 

 it will very rarely produce any serious consequences; but, in 

 extracting it, it should not be taken between the fingers. In 

 so doing, most of the poison will be pressed into the wound. 

 It must be rubbed or scraped off with celerity by a quick mo- 

 tion of the finger-nail so as to prevent any more of the 

 poison of the sack from getting into the flesh. After the 

 sting is removed the utmost care should be taken not to irri- 

 tate the womid by the slightest rubbing. However intense the 

 smarting, and the disposition to apply friction to the wound, 

 it should never be done for the moment that the blood is put 

 into violent circulation, the poison is quickly diffused over 

 a large part of the system, and severe pain and swelling may 

 ensue. On the same principle, by severe friction, the bite of a 

 mosquito, even after the lapse of several days, may be made 

 to swell again. As most of the popular remedies are rubbed 

 in, they are worse than nothing. 



When the operator is persiDiring abundantly, the stings are 

 less painful, as some of the poison exudes with the sweat. 



If the mouth is applied to the wound, unpleasant conse- 

 quences may follow; for, while the poison of snakes, affect- 

 ing only the circulating system, may be swallowed with impuni- 

 ty, the poison of the bee acts with great power on the organs 

 of digestion. Distressing headaches are often produced by it, 

 as any one, who has been stung, or has tasted the poison, very 

 well knows. 



403. In our own experience, we have found cold water to 

 be the best remedy for a bee-sting. The poison is quickly 

 dissolved in it ; and the coldness of the water has also a power- 

 ful tendency to check inflammation. 



The leaves of plantain, crushed and applied to the wound, 

 are a very good substitute, when water cannot at once be 

 procured. Bevan recommends the use of spirits of hartshorn, 

 and says that, in eases of severe stinging, its internal use is 

 also beneficial. In very serious cases, the ammonia may be 

 taken, in quantities of from five to twenty drops, — for an 



