femedies for Foul Brood, 407: 
starvation method: The bees are drummed into an empty 
hive, and given no food for three or four days, till they have 
digested all honey in their stomachs. They are then given 
foundation and food, and the combs, honey and hive treated 
as described above. It would seem that the sp-res are in the 
honey—we know surely that they are in the chyle, though 
Schonfeld finds that they are not in the blood of the bee— 
and by taking that the contagion is administered to the 
young bees. The honey may be purified from these noxious 
germs by subjecting it to the boiling temperature, which 
is generally, if not always, fatal to the spores ef fungoid 
life. By immersing the combs in a salicylic acid solution, 
or sprinkling them with the same, they would be rendered 
sterile, and could be used without much fear of spreading 
contagion. It is better however, to melt them at once. 
The disease is probably spread by robber bees visiting 
affected hives, and carrying with them in the honey the 
fatal germs. Mr. Doolittle, after some experience, agrees 
with the lamented Quinby, that it is not necessary to cause 
the bees to fast as described by Mr. Jones. They can at 
once be hived safely on foundation. 
From this remedy it would seem that the germs are in 
the honey, and not as Hilbert proved in the bees themselves. 
It should be remembered that it is easy to scatter these 
fatal germs, and whatever cure is adopted, too great care 
can not be exercised. Mr. R.L. Taylor tells me that after 
an experience of two years he does not greatly fear this 
malady. He finds it easy, by means of the fasting cure, 
and salicylic acid, to hold it in check or tocureit. Yet he 
admits that without much care and judgment it might work 
fearful havoc. 
(I have found that a paste made of gum tragacanth and 
water is very superior, and I much prefer it for either gen- 
eral or special use to gum Arabic. Yet it soon sours— 
which means that it is nourishing these fungoid plants— 
and thus becomes disagreeable. I have found that a very 
little salicylic acid will render it sterile, and thus preserve 
it indefinitely.) 
