Pages for Bee Information

Friday, January 30, 2009

Beekeeping Can be Dangerous .....

I subscribe to HistoricalHoneybeeArticles which is a yahoo group. A post today reads:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Mansfield News
Tuesday, August 09, 1904 Mansfield, Ohio

Insane From Bee Stings.

Lima, O., Aug. 9.—Robert Wood, an
apiarist of some renown in northwestern
Ohio, is suffering from the sting
of a bee, and physicians have little
hope of his recovery. While caring
for his bees he was stung a half-dozen
times, about a week ago, and poisoning
has set in. The lip has swollen
so that it almost covers the face, and
lancing had no relieving effect. The
poisoning further extended to the
brain, and he is now a raving maniac.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who knew that losing one's mind could be a consequence of bee-ing a beekeeper!

6 comments:

  1. oh my goodness! That's just awful :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2:11 PM

    My little girl was stung over 30 times at age 18 months. Luckily, we got her to the ER in time for epinephrine to save her life. Her face was swollen in a number of places to the size of a grapefruit. She carries an epi-pen now wherever she goes. I'm sad for this man. Why wasn't he wearing his suit?

    ReplyDelete
  3. It was 1904 - don't know about beesuits then -- probably just veils and no epi-pens

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow,

    For some all it takes is just one sting. That was quite a story.
    I always wear my gear when working the bees, but it was when I was just minding my own business in my garden that I got hit. Bee got tangled in my hair, and BOOM, stung head...OUCH! I wear a baseball cap now...

    ReplyDelete
  5. I just ordered my "beginner's bee hive" and package of bees. Hopefully, I won't get stung!

    ReplyDelete