40 MEETING OF INSPECTORS OF APIARIES. 
any assistance in his power. He applied to two prominent’ foundation makers 
for information. From their replies it is apparent that, for a short time at any 
rate, during the refining and purifying of the wax it reaches a temperature 
quite at or near 212° F. During sheeting, however, it apparently does not reach 
a temperature much above the melting point, say 175° F. They both seemed to 
agree that steam heat for too long a time injures the quality of the wax. 
In the American Bee Journal, 1891, page 470, we find some statements on the 
subject in a reply by two prominent foundation makers to an article by Mr. 
Corneil upon the dangers of infected comb foundation. One of them, Mr. 
Dadant, states that in refining it is heated for some time at 212° F. and is kept 
liquid for twenty-four hours. The other, Mr. M. H. Hunt, states that it is kept 
at the boiling point for six or seven hours. If these are the actual tempera- 
tures reached during foundation making, I am inclined to think there is little 
danger from foul brood in that direction. 
I thought it possible that the whole question could be settled by introducing 
a certain amount of some disinfectant—say beta naphthol—into the melted wax, 
but my results have not been satisfactory. Apparently even the introduction of 
1 per cent beta naphthol into wax did not hasten materially the destruction of 
the spores. I was able to demonstrate the presence of living spores in wax 
containing 1 per cent beta naphthol and heated for two hours to 194° F. 
From all these facts, and taking into consideration also the physical fact of 
the settling of the bacilli to the bottom, I should think that with reasonable care 
in the preparation of comb foundation the dangers of infection from this source 
would be slight. But that the spores may germinate after being mixed with the 
wax, I think I have shown. 
Why the spores of the Bacillus alvei are killed so quickly in the melted wax 
I am not able to explain, but it may be due to the fact that the wax itself 
when heated to such a temperature has an antiseptic value. That the spores 
resist other antiseptics as strongly as do the spores of anthrax I have proved 
by testing. 
Cheshire and others recommend a solution of 2 per cent carbolic acid for 
disinfecting the hive after removing infected comb, but on actual experiment 
with the infected silk threads I have found that 2 per cent carbolic acid did 
not kill the spores in six days. These results are similar to those obtained 
by Koch for the spores of anthrax, and show that 2 per cent carbolic acid 
can not be relied on to destroy the spores. However, the question of the 
value of antiseptics I will take up more in detail later on in this paper. 
I would like to say a word or two now on the methods of treating the 
disease. There are practically two methods: first, the starvation method; 
second, the method of medicated sirup. Mr. McEvoy’s method of treatment, 
it seems to me, is practically a modification of the starvation method. The 
first method is widely used both here and in the United States, whilst in 
Pngland and Europe generally the second method is adhered to. 
Considering the vitality of the spores of foul brood, it would seem at first 
sight useless to try any process which did not recognize as its foundation 
the destruction of the germ. I find, however, that many prominent bee 
keepers who have had practical experience with the method of starvation, 
or Mr. McEvoy’s method, accept it as successful. I have not had an oppor- 
tunity to examine colonies which have been cured in this manner, and so can 
not say that the bacilli have disappeared. I hope next summer to test this 
question more fully. We may, however, examine into the rationale of the 
method. In conversation with Mr. Corneil, of Lindsay, he made a suggestion 
which may be quite familiar to you all, but which seems to me the only explana- 
