AMERICAN FOUL BROOD 211 
Bacillus larve. These microdrganisms are so extremely minute 
as to require a high power microscope to enable one to find them. 
The germs or their spores seem to be carried from hive to hive 
only in the honey. In treating American foul brood it accord- 
ingly becomes exceedingly important to rid the colony of every 
vestige of the diseased honey. While the honey may carry the 
germs of foul brood which are fatal to young bees, it is not in 
the least injured thereby for human consumption. 
It is important that this point be fully understood or other- 
wise any method of treatment is likely to be unavailing. On one 
occasion an inspector was called to examine the bees in a neigh- 
borhood where foul brood was known to be present. At one farm- 
house he was told by the housewife that they no longer had any 
bees but some empty hives. On investigation he found that the 
bees had died during the winter from American foul brood. It 
was still early spring and the honey had not vet been found by 
the bees of the neighborhood. He explained carefully to the 
owner the method of treatment and thought that he fully under- 
stood it. The next day a man was sent back to ascertain whether 
instructions had been properly followed, only to find that he 
had carefully disinfected the hive by burning it out, but had 
left the honey lying on the ground where it was even more likely 
to be found by visiting bees than had it been left in the hive. 
Tn this case a large apiary near at hand was saved from infection 
by the fortunate visit of the inspector. 
Bees weakened by disease are very likely to die in winter. 
In such eases the old combs should in no case be used again, but 
the wax should be rendered and the hive carefully disinfected 
before being put in service. Colonies thus weakened are also 
very likely to fall an easy prey to the wax moth, and it fre 
quently happens that colonies which are charged to the ravages 
of the moth are really victims of foul brood. It is frequently 
recommended that honey from diseased colonies be boiled and 
fed back again to the bees. While this may be safe if carefully 
done, it is much safer to feed sugar syrup if itf becomes necessary 
