I stumbled upon this while researching Tertiapin and it's effects on an electrocardiogram (ECG)... It appears that the method does not matter much, or at all. The Lancet, Volume 348, Issue 9023<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/vol348no9023/PIIS0140-6736%2800%29X0055-4>, doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(96)01367-0<http://www.thelancet.com/popup?fileName=cite-using-doi>Cite or Link Using DOI <http://www.thelancet.com/popup?fileName=cite-using-doi> Removing bee stings Dr P Kirk Visscher<http://www.thelancet.com/search/results?fieldName=Authors&searchTerm=P%20Kirk+Visscher>PhD a<http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2896%2901367-0/fulltext?_eventId=login#aff1> Summary Background Conventional advice on immediate treatment of honey-bee stings has emphasised that the sting should be scraped off, never pinched. The morphology of the sting suggested little basis for this advice, which is likely to slow down removal of the sting. Methods The response to honey-bee stings was assayed with a measurement of the size of the resulting weal. Injection of known quantities of venom showed that this measurement is a good indicator of envenomisation. Findings Weal size, and thus envenomisation, increased as the time from stinging to removal of the sting increased, even within a few seconds. There was no difference in response between stings scraped or pinched off after 2 s. Interpretation These data suggest that advice to patients on the immediate treatment of bee stings should emphasise quick removal, without concern for the method of removal. Huh! How about that?! It turns out that the injection system is based upon valve action, not venom sack pumping -- there are no muscles around the sack. *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html Guidelines for posting to BEE-L can be found at: http://honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/guidelines.htm