1890 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



163 



This condition is brought about by the use of im- 

 proper and excessive quantities of food, as ^e have 

 said; consequently these poisons are formed from 

 the partially digested food. Now, to us the idea of 

 putting a specific poison into the system to expel or 

 neutralize another, seems simply a matter of ex- 

 periment, and very uncertain in its results. I am 

 much of the same opinion as yourself, Mr. Editor, 

 that any poison, whether taken out of a bottle or 

 the business end of a bee. is attended with only 

 doubtful results, and would best be avoided as far 

 as possible. Medical science is progressive at pres- 

 ent. We see that those who combat disease most 

 successfully use but little medicine, but, rather, 

 employ means which assist nature in throwing off 

 this effete matter, and, by a restricted diet, pre- 

 vent its formation. 



Rheumatism which has not yet proceeded to the 

 stage of hardening the deposits about the joints, is 

 curable; but after the joints become enlarged and 

 deformed, there is no process known by which 

 it may be removed. We see that a plain diet, con- 

 sisting largely of vegetables and grain, is best. The 

 various combinations of baths, fomentations, elec- 

 tricity, and galvanism, used in connection with mas- 

 sage-oil baths, and the various movements, are 

 eminently successful in the cure of all diseases 

 where there is sufficient recuperative power to re- 

 spond. Of recuperative power, says an eminent 

 writer: 



"The resistance, active and passive, of the phys- 

 ical system, to destructive agents, 16 wonderful. 

 Huge wounds heal, leaving scars only. This is true 

 of external and internal organs, including even the 

 brain. A large part of a bone may be taken out, 

 and the bone grow again; deadly poisons swal- 

 lowed, and the various eliminating organs will 

 throw them off, and destroy their power, often suc- 

 ceeding fully. Millions of people transgress every 

 law of nature, and still live out half their days 

 because of the unceasing struggle of the law of 

 recuperation to undo the mischief." 



Do we realize that this law of which the writer 

 speaks is a law of God, and that we are accountable 

 to him for every transgression? Ignorance is no 

 excuse before the law in this case, and the penalty 

 swifty follows; viz., sickness. Hygiene should be 

 diligently studied by all who profess to be the 

 people of God. It was intended by our heavenly 

 Father that all should lead happy, healthful lives, 

 and in his word he has given instructions. When 

 Moses led out the children of Israel he was given 

 the most perfect code of laws for the heating of all 

 the diseases of his people, and God especially 

 promised to bless all with health who followed his 

 instructions. All who read Gleanings should 

 study the laws of health. By so doing you will see 

 what is the cause of so much 111 health. The poison 

 of the sting may be a means of relief in some of the 

 early stages of rheumatism; but If the cause of the 

 effect coniinue, how can any permanent relief be 

 looked for? W. A. Webster. 



Crystal Springs, Cal., Jan. ~3. 



No doubt you are correct, Prof. W.; but 

 will you excuse me if 1 ask if the medical 

 gentlemen agree to what you have told us ? 

 As I went over your article, my mind went 

 back to many points in my own experience, 

 and that of others, strongly corroborating 

 what you say, and not only in regard to 

 rheumatism, but many other diseases. It 



may be true, that people sometimes are suf- 

 fering because they eat too little ; but I am 

 inclined to think that the cases are almost a 

 thousnd to one where the trouble comes 

 from eating too much, because it depends 

 largely upon the amount and kind of work 

 one is doing, as to how much food he should 

 take. Notwithstanding this, it is very hard 

 to explain how relief could have come so 

 promptly and perfectly unless the sting of a 

 bee has some wonderful effect upon the 

 pain in rheumatism. Has not God in his 

 wisdom provided antidotes and remedies, 

 even after we have transgressed his laws ? 



"WIDE AND THICK TOP-BARS. 



STAPLES FOR SPACERS. 



About the time the Simplicity hive was introduc- 

 ed, the idea was advanced that top-bars of brood- 

 frames should be as light as possible, that brood 

 and super apartments might have the least inter- 

 vening space, thereby causing the bees to more 

 readily enter and fill the supers. This theory has 

 some plausibility so far as Inducing bees to enter 

 and begin work in the supers; but if delayed from 

 working above a day or two longer on account of 

 extra intervening space between, the work goes on 

 more rapidly after it has begun; and it is not nec- 

 essary to explain to the practical bee-keeper why 

 this is so. 



When I began to use the Simplicity hive, the top- 

 bars of my frames were cut out very thin. Soon 

 after being filled, their appearance reminded me of 

 an old sway-backed horse. At that time, wide 

 frames were used to hold the sections; and as 

 these were being filled, the spaces between were 

 evened up also, with strips of comb honey. This 

 trouble was exasperating, haunting me even In my 

 dreams. Becoming desperate I determined to tear 

 off every top-bar 1 had and replace with others suffi- 

 ciently heavy to hold up under a reasonable weight. 

 This work I did in April during warm days, and 

 with no particular annoyance to the bees. At that 

 time I was using hives 16 inches wide, with 10 

 frames in the space, which was permitting too 

 much space between frames. This was reduced by 

 using a division-board at one side. With this new 

 order of things, and only a \ bee-space between 

 brood-frames and sections, little trouble from con- 

 necting combs was experienced. 



Soon after this, more by accident than otherwise, 

 I learned another fact which helped to convince me 

 that width of brood-frames Is important in prevent- 

 ing burr-combs between apartments. A gentleman 

 who was about to move away from the farm he had 

 sold, came to me to see if I would buy his bees, 

 offering them at a low price. I did so without see- 

 ing them. They were in double-walled L. hives; 

 and when I brought them home and took off the 

 honey -boards I found that the top- bars of the 

 frames were so wide as to make it a tight 6(iueeze 

 for Liecs to get between them; but as the honey 

 season was about at hand, I did not then stop to 

 cut them down, but at once placed '4 -inch-square 

 sticks across the ends, and put a case of sections on 

 each hive. In a few days bees were at work, rapid- 

 ly filling up. As sooQ as pretty well filled with 

 comb they were raised, and another case placed be- 

 neath. After all were finished I was surprised to 



