The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-30
BEES STING CURES
One of the Latest Departures in
European Medical Science.
Insect Inject Formic Acid That Breaks
Down the Poisons in the Blood
That Cause the Painful
Disease.

London.-Bee stings are the latest
cure advanced for rheumatism.
The working of the bee vacci-
nator." as this invention is termed,
was shown at the exhibition of the
Surrey Beekeepers' association at the
Crystal palace.
1t Is an ingenious appliance, Sc
cured to small platform resembling
the lid Of box. This is placed over
the hole OF hive. and the bees read
lily enter II trace of honey is applied
as bait outside a perforated zinc
slide, which is part of the mechanism
By closing the slides the bees are
imprisoned. the requisite number thus
being secured. The little "vacci-
majors" can then be removed from the
hive, or inspection box, and may be
sent by post or carried about ready
for use.
The actual operation of vaccination
is simplicity itself. The bee vac
cinator" is placed on the affected part
OF the patient and a knob is pressed
down until the bees sting.
1T is one of the newest departures
In medical science" well-known
medical man said, land is still in the
experimental stage.
But for some time past it has been
observed that, in a general way, bee
keepers certainly enjoy immunity
from rheumatism, or, II they have
suffered from this complaint. it has
disappeared after they have been
| stung a few times.
THE effect of a bee sting is that
the formic acid which the insect injects
breaks down. or. speaking informally
neutralizes the poisons in the blood
! which give rise to the symptoms OF
rheumatism.
The operation of bee vaccination
should not, of course, be undergone
without medical advice. AS for the
number of bees required-that de
ponds on the patient. and would be
for doctor to decide"
At St Bartholomew hospital II
was ascertained that bee vac
cinator" was actually in use in the
treatment of patients suffering from
rheumatism, but no official statement
as to the result of the experiments
was as yet forthcoming. Bees are reg
ularly supplied to the hospital for the
purpose.
Personally, l have had the gooc
fortune never to suffer from rheuma
tism. and l have kept bees ever sine,
i can remember" says a man who II
exhibiting at the Crystal palace.
1T does not follow that beekeepini
is positive assurance of immunit.
from rheumatism. but beekeepers O
my acquaintance who have suffered
from rheumatism have told me hov
these pains have disappeared afte
they have been sung.
ANY beekeeper will tell you tina
the first few stings cause inflamma
ton and swelling. but this gradual,
goes down, and after a while he e1
periences little or no discomfort iron
bee sting. A wasp sting is a dii
ferent matter.
Il am surprised the medical profes
sion has not taken up bee vaccination
before.
THE difficulty. however, has bee
in manipulating the bees-that is t
persons other than beekeepers.
/ People operating have been
greater danger Of being stung tina
I the patient hitherto.
This invention has solved the di
/ ficulty. and secured the safety OF an
one carrying out the operation. b
cause It IL impossible for any of Ii
/ bees to escape from the vaccinator