Page:Jardine Naturalist's library Bees.djvu/200

196 Almost every writer on the subject of bees has given a cure for their sting, and a recipe for a bee-dress. As remedies against the venom, olive-oil, vitriol, laudanum, vinegar, and even simple water, have each their advocates; and old Butler prescribes the rubbing the wound with simple saliva. We have found no remedy so efficacious as the juice of a plant we have seldom to go far in search of, the common dock, bruised, and rubbed instantly on the wound, after the sting has been withdrawn. The rubbing should be continued for ten or fifteen minutes; it will allay the pain, and very generally prevents the part from swelling. With regard to defensive coverings, we have seen none described which were not greatly wanting in simplicity and facility of management. Many of them, also, are very uncomfortable to the wearers, particularly the cloth hoods which reach down over the shoulders, and by confining and concentrating the heat of the body and breath about the head and face, give more annoyance than a few stings would do. We have tried most of these dresses, and have laid them aside; and now we use only a thin gauze or crape veil, sewed quite round the edge of the hat-rim, the projection of which keeps the veil at due distance from the face. To prevent the bees from getting within it, the sides of the veil are sewed together behind, and the under part of it stuffed within the neck of the vest. This, with a pair of stout leather or woollen gloves, forms our whole defensive armour; it is put off and on in a few seconds, and proves perfectly sufficient for the purpose intended.