148 A Modern Bee-Farm 3 
the first evidence of the malady may occur with a sudden 
accession of heat * ; may also be seen soon after giving fresh 
sheets of foundation. 
The Secondary or Final Stage 
is a more serious matter, and should not be allowed, if 
possible, as the observant bee-owner should generally be 
able to check the complaint at the first evidence of trouble. 
The sick workers now die in the hive, or are found 
expiring on the alighting board, or in front of it, many 
being drawn out by the more able workers, who may soon 
be in like condition. Few or no bees crawling or clustering 
on the ground; the abdomen not of necessity distended, 
though more frequently so in cool weather ; contents of the 
bowel generally offensive, but not always of a dark color ; 
workers die off quickly, many becoming denuded of hair 
and turning a dull black while yet alive,f hence the 
complaint has been referred to as Bacillus depilis. The 
stock shows less inclination to work in fine weather than 
formerly. The sick bees are constipated in all cases, except 
it may be occasionally in winter, when they are unable to 
hibernate perfectly. The affected bees have neither the 
power nor the inclination to use the sting. At this stage of 
the malady even quite young bees may be among the dead. 
The dislocation of the wings, so often referred to, is not 
peculiar to this complaint. 
Curative Treatment. 
Many prominent teachers, and also experts holding first- 
class certificates, have allowed the bees they owned, or 
* Where losses occur in autumn, winter and spring, the disease 
probably developed in the previous summer. 
+ These should not be confused with old, lean, dark bees that 
the workers may be turning out from some hive, often a vain 
undertaking, as these will frequently fly back. 
