BEE STINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

BEE STINGS.

THE BLISTERING ACID. INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS. An instructive paper about bee venom, in which he combines his own experiences with a survey of the scanty scientific literature on the subject, was recently produced by Dr. F. Thompson and published in the "Lancet." He points out that the active principle of bee venom, which is the cause of the local pain and the general signs of poisoning which occur in some people, consists of at least eight substances. These include "a nitrogenous compound," glycerine, choline, phosphoric acid, and other acids, but the important element as far as the sting is concerned appears to be "a nitrogen-free fraction . . . probably a cyclic acid anhydride which causes inflammation and when dissolved in oil raises blisters."

This acid has further been found to have a destructive action upon the red cells of the blood when mixed with these in test-tube experiments, and it is interesting to note that the active substance in bee venom is from the chemical point of view the connecting link between certain of the poisons found in snake venom and the poisons of purely vegetable origin, as from the cantharides series.

The normal effect upon people Vith an ordinary degree of sensitivity when stung by a bee is the well-known pain followed" by a small reaction with swelling, all disappearing in 24 hours. In about 2 per cent of people a state of hvpersensitivity exists and a sting may be followed by an extreme degree of swelling, shock and collapse. More serious effects and even a fatal termination are fortunately very rare events. Dr. Thompson has tried to determine what type of person is liable to be affected in this more serious way but without reaching any satisfactory conclusion. He points out that children are seldom stung and that people who perspire freely are certainly more susceptible. It is well known that beekeepers develop an absolute a immunity to bee stings, and it can be shown that this is due to the development of antibodies in the blood which develop after about 12 days.

Bee stings have a reputation for the treatment of rheumatism, and Dr. Thompson has investigated this effect. He thinks that some good may certainly be obtained in patients with the muscular rheumatism type of complaint, including lumbago, sciatica and fibrositis, but' the more chronic forms of arthritis are not benefited. The good effect produced appears to be due to a type of ,what'is known as "protein shock."