183 THE PRACTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



343. Cattse. — Bacillus : Infected food, or infected combs 

 conveying: the disease to the colony, and to other colonics, 

 through the agency of robber bees. 



344. Treatment. — Unite weak stocks, in clean hives, and on 

 starters of foundation, confining the queen in a cage that will 

 admit of her being fed : a few days later, substitute full sheets 

 of foundation for the starters, keeping the queen caged for 

 a few days longer : feed from the outset, with medicated syrup 

 (Recipes 321, 322) : render all infected combs and starters into 

 wax by the boiling method (280) : and disinfect all hives and 

 appliances which have been in contact with the disease. 

 (Recipe 363). 



345. Pickled Brood — Pickled brood is not prevalent in this 

 country, nor is it nearly so contagious, infectious or destruc- 

 tive as either black brood or foul brood. 



346. Symptoms. — Like black brood, this disease is frequently 

 mistaken for foul brood; but, the symptoms are too distinct to 

 admit of any doubt upon the part of a careful observer. The 

 dead larva, generally much swollen, lies on its back, with 

 both ends upwards : it is first white, like healthy brood, after- 

 wards changing to yellow, gradually darkening until it is 

 nearly black : it is never sticky or ropy ; and the larva being 

 " pickled " in its own liquids, putrefaction is arrested, and the 

 evil smells so characteristic of advanced black brood and foul 

 brood, are entirely absent. 



347. Cause. — The disease, which is infectious and liable to 

 be carried from hive to hive by robbers, is due to a white fungus 

 growth starting a ferment in the alimentary canal of the larva. 



348. Treatment. — The treatment commonly adopted is, to 

 transfer the bees to clean hives, with frames of foundation ; 

 confining them to their hives for three days, so that all the 

 infected material may be consumed ; and feeding them with 

 medicated syrup. (Recipes 321, 322). 



349. Foul Brood. — Foul brood {Bacillus alvei) is a specific 

 infectious disease caused by bacteria, and, in every way, the 

 most serious disease to which bees in this country are subject. 

 It attacks adult bees as well as larvae, and is so exceedingly 

 virulent that, if not speedily brought under control, it destroys 

 colonies, devastates whole apiaries, and reaching out to un- 

 affected places, spreads death and destruction far and near. 

 When once it has taken possession of a district, the difficulty 

 of thoroughly eradicating it is so great, and its contagion is so 

 active, that entire parishes and counties may become affected 



