CHAPETR IV. 



DISEASES. 



DYSENTERY, OR DIARRHOEA. 



BEES frequently suffer from this disease, particularly 

 during the winter and early spring. It is caused by 

 unwholesome food, unusual confinement, insufficient 

 ventilation or dampness, cold or heat, either sepa- 

 rately or in combination. 



" The presence of this disease is indicated by the 

 appearance of the excrement, which, instead of a 

 reddish yellow, exhibits a muddy black color, and has 

 a very offensive smell. Also by its being voided 

 upon the floor, and at the entrance of the hive," and 

 also on the comb, " which bees, in a healthy state 

 are particularly careful to preserve clean." Bevan. 



When bees are suffering from this disease, they 

 frequently separate from the cluster, (even when the 

 weather is quite cold) and endeavor to fly. When 

 the weather becomes mild, numbers of them may be 

 seen crawling at the entrance of the hive or on the 

 ground, presenting a bloated or bedaubed appearance, 

 and rapidly dying. At this stage of the disease the 



