FOUL-BROOD. 481 



should be kept queenless depends upon its virulence. In mild 

 cases, a period of ten days of queenlessness has proven sufficient, 

 ■v^'hile in very bad cases, it has been necessary to keep a colony 

 queenless until every cell of brood was hatched. 



795. In the treatment of either American or European foul- 

 brood, it is useless to treat ^^eak colonies, or colonies that 

 have become thoroughly infected. In extreme cases several of 

 the diseased colonies may be united together before or during 

 treatment. Weak colonies not only neglect their brood, but 

 run the risk of being robbed, which would doubtless give the 

 disease to the robbing colonies. 



796. That queens may transmit the disease as stated (792) 

 has been proven by ]\Iaurice Dadant who, in the treatment of 

 European foul-brood, tried the experiment of gi\'ing queens from 

 diseased colonies to entirely healthy hives, with the result of 

 transmitting the disease in each case. But this may not be 

 an invariable occurrence, as several apiarists reported ha\-ing 

 used the queens of diseased colonies without transmitting the 

 contagion. Cheshire stated having found baciUi within the 

 ovaries of queens of diseased colonies. Possibly the condition 

 of the colony and its strength have much to do with the result. 

 In unfavorable conditions, queens may transmit the disease. 



797. Many inspectors and experienced apiarists assert that 

 it is not necessary to disinfect the hives in either disease; that 

 the removal of the combs containing honey and depriving of 

 the bees of food is entirely sufficient in the treatment of American 

 foul-brood. We beUeve this correct in European foul-brood. 

 But in American foul-brood the disease is much more positively 

 eradicated if we thoroughly disinfect e^'ery part of the hive. 

 It is not a tedious job. Some advise the painting of coal oil 

 upon the inside of the hives, piUng them up one upon another 

 and touching a match to the pile, extinguishing the fire as 

 soon as the walls have been singed. Our method is better, as 

 we have had experience "w-ith this disease and have completely 

 eradicated it, since the previous edition of this work was 

 published. Here it is: 



