REMEDIES FOR THE BEE-STING. 6i 



the great American bee-keeper, speaks highly in its favour 

 for its mollifying effects ; he thinks it dissolves the poison 

 and checks at once the after inflammation. I have applied 

 it direct from the pump when severely stung on the wrist 

 and arm, but I cannot say that it had more than a tempo- 

 rary effect. 



The venom being of a strong acid nature, any alkali 

 which will counteract it is useful as a remedy. On this 

 ground many persons apply liquid ammonia, or hartshorn, 

 but it should be applied with care. Liquor potassas also is 

 often used with beneficial results. In " Bee-keeping for 

 the many " tobacco and its juice are recommended, to be 

 applied as follows : " Take ordinary fine cut smoking or 

 chewang tobacco, and lay a pinch of it in the hollow of 

 your hand, and moisten it, and work it over until the juice 

 appears quite dark coloured ; then apply it to the part stung, 

 rubbing in the juice with the tobacco between your thumb 

 and fingers as with a sponge. As fast as the tobacco 

 becomes dry, add a little moisture, and continue to rub and 

 press out the juice upon the inflamed spot during five or 

 ten minutes ; and if applied soon after being stung it will 

 cure in every case. Before I tried it I was frequently laid 

 up with swollen eyes and limbs for days, now it is an 

 amusement to get stung." Not having personally tested 

 the tobacco remedy, I cannot vouch for its efficacy ; yet 

 it may, like the others, be of service if quickly applied. 



Plaintain leaves (way-bread of Cheshire and Lancashire 

 villagers) bruised and pressed on the wound are a reputed 

 specific. 



Longfellow, in the "Song of Hiawatha," mentions 

 bees as preceding the white man, and soon after he settles 

 the plantain also makes it appearance. It is a fact that the 

 plantain follows invariably the steps of the European, and 

 from this circumstance it is called by the Indians " White 



