The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-01-13
Effects Of Stings in the Animal and Veg.
etabIe Kingdom.

It is well known that the effect of
singing nettle on the skin agrees very
closely with the sensation produced by
the sting of a bee or wasp. But the great
similarity is not limited to the feelings
it causes, but, what may not be so well
known, the cause of the irritation pro-
duced on the skin is essentially the same.
1t may be considered as definitely set
tied that formic acid is present in the
poison sac of the bee sting, in the So
called bee poison. The same corrosive
acid also occurs in the sting of the net
tle Some species of caterpillars have
formic acid in some of their hairs, which
they seem to be able to shake off at will,
and when person touches such a cater
pillar the poison penetrates the skin
wherever it is moist and causes burning,
itching and inflammation. These poi
sonous members preserve their irritating
powers even after the death of the worm.
This accounts for reliable statements
that visitors to collections of caterpillars
have suffered from exanthematous erup-
tons on the neck. MANY hairy cater
pillars cause itching and burning of the
skin when touched, and sometimes it
gives rise to swelling and redness. This
depends on the fine hairs. which produce
the same effect when they float around
in the air. Many ladies who visited the
caterpillar room of the naturalist Reau-
muir had breaking out on the neck"
In the sting of the bee, wasp, hornet,
etc., minute drop of transparent
liquid may be observed on the sting, and
called "bee poison" (formic acid). 1t
penetrates into the wound produced by
the sting, and causes the well known
effects 1t would, however, be great
mistake to assume that the only OBJ
ject of this is TO increase the effect of the
sting, that is, that it serves only to in
jure. 1t has a far more important pur-
pose, namely to prevent fermentation
and decay. The celebrated bee cultiva-
tor, Holz reports that in his long ex-
perienee with honey, that which came
from what are called "rancorous
swarms' (boshaft) had peculiar prop
critics. It always had bitter, harsh
taste, and its smell was sharp, too
How can the character of the swarm
affect the smell and taste of the honey
they gatherp We know that bees, when
they are disturbed, run out their stings,
on the end of which may be seen tiny
drop. This little drop, as we have al
ready said, is bee poison, or formic acid.
When their disturbance is at an end
they draw in their stings again. but the
little drop of liquid does not go back
with it, but is wiped off on the comb,
and sooner or later gets mixed up with
the honey. This explains how honey
from such excited bees must taste and
smell sharper than FROM peaceable bees.
Excitable bees will rub off this little
drop of formic acid more frequently than
other bees; perhaps larger drop is
formed by nervous bees than by those
that are not nervous, and hence the
honey is richer in formic acid. This
acid is never absent in genuine honey,
but the amount differs. This contami-
nation is not only uninjurious but very
useful, in fact necessary, for it keeps the
honey from spelling; we know, indeed,
that purified honey, from which the
formic acid has been removed, very
soon ferments, while unpurlied honey
will keep unchanged for years. Nature
furnishes the bees with this knowledge
instinetively, and therefore they do not
of the hive. Bee connoisseurS assure
me that the bees add it to the nectar
which they collect that is free from it so
as to make it keep, and they do this in
places where they are not disturbed,
too.
Bee stings are often spoken of in agri-
cultural and popular papers as 4 remedy
for rheumatic affections, and numerous
cures are adduced to prove it, If the
formic acid that accompanies the sting
can be looked upon as the principal
agent in the cure, it would be worth
while to try the experiment of rubbing
the spot with this acid or injecting it I'M
der the skin, SO as to avoid the some
what inconvenient method of applying
live bees.
Two hundred years ago formic acid
was made from the brown wood ants, by
triturating them with water and distill-
ing it. The acid liquid was used to iri-
tate the skin. The reddening of the
skim by using baths of pine leaves, is
also due to the action of the formic acid.
The anti-fermentative action of formic
acid has also long been recognized.
AS regards the Initiative action of sting
ing nettles and other similar vegetables,
it depends, as alro ady stated, on its
formic acid. The point of the nettles
is brittle as glass, and by the lightest
touch penetratos the skin and breaks off,
pouring out its acid and causing the
burning sensation.
In this little notice frequent mention
has been made of formic acid. In con.
clusion it may be stated that it gets its
name from the ant Qormica), because it
was first found in them. If it had been
| found first in the bee or nettle it would
have received another name If an ant
runs over piece OF blue litmus paper
he will leave red streak Put stick
in an ant-hill and they will squirt strong
acid on it.-Irof. Vogei, IN Scientific
american.