314 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
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 irritating 
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, smelling the rank flavor of the poison, will 
come about you as thick as hail.” 
REMEDIES FOR THE STING OF 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 pull 
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 
* When bees thrust out their stings in a thrcaten’ng manner, a minute drop of 
poison can bo seen on their points, somo of which is occasionally flirted into the 
eyo of the Apiarian, and cuuses severe irritation. 
