220 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES 



themselves of the disease in this manner. Dr. C. C. Miller, one 

 of the best known authorities, is quoted as follows : 



I know there are those for whom I have great respect who have bitterly 

 denounced tlie practice of trying to save the combs in treating European 

 foul brood. In my first dealing witii the disease I melted hundreds of 

 brood combs. If 1 am forgiven 1 will never do it again. Please be sure to 

 note that I am talking about European, not American, foul brood. The 

 loss of the combs is not all there is of it. Indeed, I think tliat is the 

 smallest part. The greater loss is from the set-back in the work of brood 

 rearing. It seems to knock things endwise for weeks, if not for the season. 

 Far less is the interference when egg laying is suspended for eight or ten 

 days. 



I think I hear someone say, " But your treatment does not seem 

 effective for you keep on having the disease, while with the orthodox method 

 and the combs destroyed there's the end of it." Pardon me, that may be 

 true with regard to American but not with European foul brood. I treated 

 the disease after the most orthodox fashion, destroying, as I have said, 

 hundreds of combs, and so far as I could see, the disease was just as willing 

 to return as with the drastic treatment. I think I'd rather keep brood 

 and combs. 



With reference to the Alexander plan of treating this disease 

 as practised by Dr. Miller and others, it is well to repeat what 

 has already been said, that no method has ever been found for 

 eliminating American foul brood without destroying the combs. 

 This method applies only to European foul brood and sacbrood, 

 a mild disease described later on. 



European foul brood was long known as black brood and first 

 appeared in the East. It was known in New York for a number 

 of years before it made an appearance in the Central West. 

 While there are still many localities where it is not present it 

 has spread into practically all parts of the country. 



Sources of Infection. — The spread of American foul brood 

 in the neighborhood of the diseased colonies is usually by means 

 of robber bees which visit those which, because of their weak- 

 ened condition, are no longer able to defend their stores, and 

 disease is thus rapidly spread. Every bee-keeper should guard 

 against the robbing of weak colonies. In case a colony dies from 

 disease the hive should be at once removed, the contents 

 destroyed, and the hive and fixtures thoroughly disinfected. 



