Scientific American , Vol. 23, No. 19 (NOVEMBER 5, 1870), p. 298
Bee Stings
No outward application can have any effect in curing the sting of a bee, although everybody has some remedy that, you will be told, is instantaneous relief. You can not go amiss should you apply in every instance the first thing you lay your hands on. A list of remedies we have heard of would fill the “Annals of Bee Culture” and should you try them all you would find all of them equally efficient. All that can be done when you are stung is to carefully extract the sting, which should not be done by taking hold of it with the fingers, as the poison sack at the root of the sting would thus be discharged into the wound. It is better to remove it with the edge of a knife, or if none is convenient then with the finger nail. The swelling may be partially prevented or even nearly removed after it takes place by rubbing with the hand, being careful to rub in t h e direction of the heart, as by that means the poison may be thrown into the circulation and distributed through the system without injury.
Bee Stings Again
On page 298 of the last SCIENTIFIC AMERlCAN, under the head of “Bee Stings,” you say, “No outward application can have any effect in curing the sting of a bee.” From this I beg leave to differ. I claim that any substance that is a good absorbent will “draw” a part of the poison, and thereby ease the pain and reduce the swelling. To rub the poison into the circulation may do well enough for a single sting ; but we occasionally read of persons receiving so many stings as to produce death if the poison is not extracted. The best absorbing substance that I have tried is lean fresh meat. This will relieve the pain of a wasp sting almost instantly, and has been recommended for the cure of rattlesnake bites. I have also used it with marked effect in erysipelas.
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Comment: Never tried putting a piece of meat on a sting, though ammonia is supposed to be good. My information suggests that most of the venom is injected instantly, so it matters little how or if you get the sting out right away.
plb
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