42 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS ON APICULTURE. 



Since we know nothing positively about the cause, we can suggest 

 very little in the way of treatment. The removal of the stores from 

 the hive would tend to remedy the defect if the character of the food 

 be an important factor in the etiology. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 



We have now briefly considered the nature and the etiology of bee 

 diseases and have suggested some of the principles upon which the 

 methods of treatment must depend if such treatment is to be most 

 efficient. If we review what we have just said concerning the 

 etiology and treatment of the different diseases, we observe the follow- 

 ing facts: 



There is but one disease, American foul brood, of which we know 

 absolutely the exciting cause. The cause is a species of bacteria, but 

 there are many things concerning the nature, the distribution, and the 

 activity of which we do not know. The facts which have been deter- 

 mined enable us to suggest some of the principles upon which the 

 treatment must be based. Just so rapidly as our knowledge of the 

 etiology of this disease increases, so rapidly will we be able to suggest 

 principles for the improvement of the methods of treatment. 



In European foul brood we only know positively that the disease 

 is infectious, and we can do no better than to use the principles 

 gained by the study of American foul brood. As our knowledge of 

 the etiology of this disease increases, the methods of treatment will 

 be altered. 



In the so-called " pickled brood " we do not seem to have an in- 

 fectious disease. Nothing is positively known of the etiology except 

 that the larvse die at approximately the same age in all cases, which is 

 about the time of capping. The treatment that is used by some is 

 based upon the principle that heredity is an important factor, and 

 therefore requeening is resorted to. 



In the disease of adult bees known as " paralysis," practically noth- 

 ing is known and practically no treatment is known to be effective. 



It will be noted that in every case the treatment of bee diseases 

 is based upon the knowledge of the etiology. There are many things 

 of very great importance in the etiology which are yet to be deter- 

 mined, but there are many things which are known that, if applied 

 by the bee keeper, will prove to be of great value to him financially. 

 It is to be hoped, then, that the bee keeper will make himself as fa- 

 miliar as possible with the nature of the etiology of bee diseases, since 

 it is clear that the better the cause is known the better will be the 

 treatment. From this discussion one conclusion can be drawn — that 

 in the knowledge of the etiology of bee diseases lies the hope of their 

 control. 



