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Index of Subjects --00163646d4faa9805d046ad56971 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable 2009/5/26 Paul S. Boyer <psboyer@eastlink.ca> > I have been reading a bit about insect stings. The Bald-faced Hornet and > the Yellow Jacket are regarded as the most painful insects we are liked t= o > encounter, although I do not know (and would hate to imagine) how this > conclusion could be rigorously tested. Some researchers have actually > compiled a sting-scale of such things. (For example, see: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index)<http://en.wikipedi= a.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index%29> > One article states that such remedies as baking soda are probably > ineffective: "placing large amounts of alkali near the sting site is > unlikely to produce a perfectly neutral pH to stop the pain. Many people > do claim benefit from these home remedies, but it is doubtful they have a= ny > real physical effect on how much a sting hurts or continues hurting, the > effect is probably related to rubbing the area or the mind perceiving > benefit." They even give references. See: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_sting > > I have had that remedy used on bee stings, and it did not seem very usefu= l. > For stings of the Bald-faced hornet, however, it was amazingly effective= . > I was pulling weeds, and accidently grasped a small, volunteer > tree-seedling on which some Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata)= were > just starting a nest. Two of them alighted on my left forearm and began > stinging. Being of an investigative turn of mind, I restrained myself fr= om > brushing them away, the better to be able to observe their attack, and to > get a certain identification. In this I was frustrated, because as they > injected their venom, they vibrated their bodies so that they looked > blurred. As the pain increased, I finally knocked them off my arm, and r= an > indoors for some baking soda. > > When I used the baking soda, applied on a moistened paper towel, the pain > rather suddenly disappeared, and was replaced by a pleasurable sensation. > Perhaps this was an example of the contrast of stimuli. Another remarka= ble > thing is that I could find no marks, not even red spots, indicating the > points of injection. From this I concluded that the venom had little eff= ect > on me except for its strong acidity, or from some component whose activit= y > was pH related. > > =E2=80=94 Paul Boyer > I remember being told when a child to use baking soda for wasps, but vinega= r for bee stings, as the one was acid and the other alkaki. Pat McKay > > > On 24 May 2009, at 6:13 PM, Ken MacAulay wrote: > > Growing up in Scotland, as kids we would use the leaves of the dock(en) > plant to rub on nettle stings. We also put vinegar on bee/wasp stings. I > presume the acid somehow counteracted the venom. We used to chew plantai= n > leaves for refreshment - candies were still rationed till the early > fifties! > Ken MacAulay > Port Mouton, NS > > > > --00163646d4faa9805d046ad56971 Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">2009/5/26 Paul S. Boyer <span dir=3D"ltr= "><psboyer@eastlink.ca></s= pan><br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid r= gb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> <div style=3D"">I have been reading a bit about insect stings. The Bald-fac= ed Hornet and the Yellow Jacket are regarded as the most painful insects we= are liked to encounter, although I do not know (and would hate to imagine)= how this conclusion could be rigorously tested. =C2=A0Some researchers hav= e actually compiled a sting-scale of such things. =C2=A0(For example, see:= =C2=A0<a href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index%29" = target=3D"_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmidt_Sting_Pain_Index)</a= ><div> <br></div><div>One article states that such remedies as baking soda are pro= bably ineffective: "<span style=3D"line-height: 19px;">placing large a= mounts of alkali near the sting site is unlikely to produce a perfectly neu= tral pH to stop the pain.<span style=3D"line-height: 10px;">=C2=A0=C2=A0</s= pan>Many people do claim benefit from these home remedies, but it is doubtf= ul they have any real physical effect on how much a sting hurts or continue= s hurting, the effect is probably related to rubbing the area or the mind p= erceiving benefit." =C2=A0They even give references. =C2=A0See:=C2=A0<= /span><a href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_sting" target=3D"_blank">= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bee_sting</a></div> <div><br></div><div>I have had that remedy used on bee stings, and it did n= ot seem very useful. =C2=A0For stings of the Bald-faced hornet, however, it= was amazingly effective. =C2=A0I was pulling weeds, and accidently grasped= a small, volunteer tree-seedling on which some Bald-faced Hornets =C2=A0(<= span style=3D"font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px;"><s= pan style=3D"font-weight: normal;">Dolichovespula maculata</span><span styl= e=3D"font-weight: normal; font-style: normal;">)</span>=C2=A0<span style=3D= "font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">were just s= tarting a nest. =C2=A0Two of them alighted on my left forearm and began sti= nging. =C2=A0Being of an investigative turn of mind, I restrained myself fr= om brushing them away, the better to be able to observe their attack, and t= o get a certain identification. =C2=A0In this I was frustrated, because as = they injected their venom, they vibrated their bodies so that they looked b= lurred. =C2=A0As the pain increased, I finally knocked them off my arm, and= ran indoors for some baking soda.</span></span></div> <div><br></div><div>When I used the baking soda, applied on a moistened pap= er towel, the pain rather suddenly disappeared, and was replaced by a pleas= urable sensation. =C2=A0Perhaps this was an example of the contrast of stim= uli. =C2=A0Another remarkable thing is that I could find no marks, not even= red spots, indicating the points of injection. =C2=A0From this I concluded= that the venom had little effect on me except for its strong acidity, or f= rom some component whose activity was pH related.</div> <div><br></div><div>=E2=80=94 Paul Boyer</div></div></blockquote><div><br>I= remember being told when a child to use baking soda for wasps, but vinegar= for bee stings, as the one was acid and the other alkaki. <br><br>Pat McKa= y <br> </div><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"border-left: 1px solid rgb= (204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div style= =3D""><div></div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On 24 May 2009, at 6:13 = PM, Ken MacAulay wrote:</div> <br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div>Growing up in Scotland, as kids we would= use the leaves of the dock(en)<br>plant to rub on nettle stings. We also p= ut vinegar on bee/wasp stings. =C2=A0I<br>presume the acid somehow countera= cted the venom. =C2=A0We used to chew plantain<br> leaves for refreshment - candies were still rationed till the early fifties= !<br>Ken MacAulay<br>Port Mouton, NS<br><br><br></div></blockquote></div><b= r></div></div></blockquote></div><br> --00163646d4faa9805d046ad56971--
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