314: THB HIVE AND HONKY-BEF- 



poison produces the most virulent effect. Something in 

 the secretions of such persons may both provoke the 

 attack and render its consequences more severe. 



The smell of their own poison produces a very in-itatrag 

 effect upon bees. A small portion of it offered to them 

 on a stick, ■will excite their anger.* " If'you are, stung," 

 says old Butler, " or any one in the company — yea, though 

 a bee hath stricken but your clothes, especially in hot 

 "weather — you were best be packing as fast as you can, for 

 the other bees, smellLag the rank flavor of the poison, wiU 

 come about you as thick as haU." 



EEMEDIES FOE THE STING OP A BEE. 



If only a few of the host of cures, so zealously advo- 

 cated, could be made effectual, there would be little 

 reason to dread being stung. 



The first thing to be done after being stung, is to puU 

 the sting out of the wound as quickly as possible. When 

 torn from the bee, the poison-bag, and all the muscles 

 which control the sting, accompany it ; and it penetrates 

 deeper and deeper into the flesh, injecting continually 

 more and more poison into the wound. If extracted at 

 once, it will very rarely produce any serious consequences. 

 After the sting is removed, the utmost care should be 

 taken not to irritate the wound 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 mos- 

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



* WhoD bees thrust out tieir stiiiga in a tlireaten'ng manner, a minute drop of 

 poison can be seen on their points, some of which is occasionally flii-ted into the 

 eye of the Apiarian, and causes severe irritation. 



