408 ANNU>L REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



is somewhat divided as to whether it is eafe to use the hive itself. 

 But all are agreed that frames and combs should be destroyed. If 

 any apparently good honey is found in a diseased hive, it is not af- 

 fected for table use, only there is the danger that if it is kept for the 

 table the bees may, in some, way, get a taste of it. If water is added 

 to it and it is kept at the boiling point not less than three hours, 

 the honey may be fed to bees. Some would hardly be willing to 

 take that risk. The wax may be rendered and used, providing it is 

 done by a person so careful that no part of the combs or remains 

 get within reach of bees. 



Black hroodi^ a disease due to the presence of Bacillus milii^ modi- 

 fied perhaps, by Bacillus thoracis. It bears a resemblance to foul 

 brood both in appearance and destructiveness, but can be distin- 

 guished by the fact that the dead larva instead of being glue-like, 

 as in foul brood, is of a jelly-like consistency, and instead of the of- 

 fensive smell of foul brood it has a peculiar sour-like smell. In 

 stead of drawing out into strings of half an inch or an inch in length, 

 it never strings out to an extent of more than one-eighth of an inch. 

 Black brood is a disease of only recent acquaintance, and it is 

 not certain that the best treatment has yet been learned. Dr. Wm. 

 R. Howard, an expert bacteriologist, has given much attention to this 

 and kindred diseases, and gives the following treatment: 



The best time to effect a cure is during a honey-flow. Adopting a 

 modified McEvoy plan: 



"Make your stocks strong by uniting; place them upon comb-foun- 

 dation starters, and cage the queen. After five days remove the start- 

 er® and make them into wax, and give full sheets of foundation — 

 keeping the queen caged five days longer. This will give time for 

 all infected mature bees to have disappeared before any brood is 

 reared." 



Pickled hrood., due to Aspergillus jyoUinis., a specific fungus, is not 

 nearly so much to be dreaded as foul or black brood, and can be dis- 

 tinguished by the fact that the dead larva is watery^ instead of 

 being like glue or jelly. As to its treatment. Dr. Howard gives the 

 following in The American Bee Journal: 



"I have recommended, with successful results, placing the bees on 

 full sheets of foundation, confining them for three days (giving them 

 plenty of water) in order to consume all of the infected material, 

 that none of it might be deposited in the new combs to be covered 

 with new pollen or honey. The disease is infectious, and may be 

 carried by robbers having access to infected combs." 



Bee j^aralyxis^ due, according to Cheshire, to Bacillus Gatoni^ 

 is a disease of the mature bee. An affected bee may be seen at the 

 entrance with its abdomen swollen and its body black and shiny, 



