Hello All

This is my third year at beekeeping. Last year and this year I decided to
work the hives largely without gloves. I carry a pair of gloves with me
which I wear when the stinging gets too much.

Sometimes I get as many as 30 to 40 stings in a session of examining hives,
although it is sometimes difficult to judge the number of stings due I would
imagine to the fact that my hands are in such pain, that after a certain
point I do not feel the extra stings. Apart from the initial pain and some
swelling, and a pair of hands which are pock marked with sting marks, I do
not appear to suffer any ill effects.

Certain parts of my hands such as the palm and the tips of my fingers cause
me severe pain when stung, but the backs of my hands are not too painful.

Some people - one a medical doctor who is also a beekeeper - have warned me
that I am taking too many stings, others say that if I take about 1000mg of
Vitamin C per day and then drink plenty of water after a hive handling
session (both of which I do), that I will not come to any harm. I must add
that I really believe that the bee venom is beneficial to me.

I must also say that I get an excellent measure of the docility of a hive by
working without gloves, some hives do not give me even one sting at times.

Has anybody in the list any comments to make based on experience, which
would be of assistance to me in determining if I should continue to expose
myself to this level of stinging?.

Sincerely

Tom Barrett
49 South Park, Foxrock
Dublin 18
Ireland
Tel + 353 1 289 5269
Fax + 353 1 289 9940