14 TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 
vastation of the disease by removing all material capable of trans- 
mitting the cause of the trouble. 
The cause of European foul brood is not definitely known, but the 
same principles of treatment doubtless apply in this disease also. 
In all of the operations great pains should be taken not to spread the 
disease through carelessness. After handling a diseased colony the 
hands of the operator should be washed with water to remove any 
honey that may be on them. It does not pay to treat colonies that 
are considerably weakened by disease. In case there are several 
such colonies they should be united to form strong, vigorous colonies 
before or during treatment. 
In discussing treatment it is assumed that hives with movable 
frames are in use. Box hives are a menace in regions where disease 
is present. These may be treated for disease by drumming the colony 
into another box and then hiving it like a swarm in a hive, but box 
hives are not profitable and are especially to be condemned where 
disease is present on account of the difficulty in inspecting and 
treating. 
Shaking Treatment. 
The shaking treatment consists essentially in the removal of all 
infected material from the colony, and in compelling the colony to 
take a fresh start by building new combs and gathering fresh stores. 
This is done by shaking the bees from the old combs into a clean hive 
on clean frames. 
Time of treatment.—The shaking treatment should be given during 
a flow of honey, so that other bees in the apiary will not be inclined 
torob. If this is not possible the operation may be performed under 
a tent made of mosquito netting. The best time is during the middle 
of a clear day when a large number of bees are in the field. It is 
sometimes recommended that shaking be done in the evening, but 
this is impossible if many colonies are to be treated. The colony 
can be handled more quickly when the field force is out of the hive. 
Preparation.—All implements that will be needed, such as queen 
and drone trap, hive tool, and lighted smoker, should be in readiness 
before the operation is begun. A complete clean hive with frames 
is provided, as well as a tightly closed hive body in which to put the 
contaminated combs after shaking. An extra hive cover or some 
similar apparatus should be provided to serve as a runway for the 
bees as they enter the new hive. The new frames should contain 
strips of comb foundation from one-fourth to 1 inch wide. Full 
sheets are not desirable, and if combs built on full sheets of founda- 
tion are desired they may be built later. 
Operation.—The old hive containing the diseased colony (fig. 6, 4) 
is now lifted to one side out of the flight of returning field bees 
and the clean hive (2) set exactly in its place. The cover (@) is 
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