220 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES 
themselves of the disease in this manner. Dr. C. C. Miller, one 
of the best known authorities, is quoted as follows: 
I know there are those for whom I have great respect who have bitterly 
denounced the practice of trying to save the combs in treating European 
foul brood. In my first dealing with the disease I melted hundreds of 
brood combs. If I am forgiven I will never do it again. Please be sure to 
note that I am talking about European, not American, foul brood. The 
loss of the combs is not all there is of it. Indeed, I think that is the 
smallest part. The greater loss is from the set-back in the work of brood 
rearing. It seems to knock things endwise for weeks, if not for the season. 
Far less is the interference when egg laying is suspended for eight or ten 
days. 
I think I hear someone say, “But your treatment does not seem 
effective for you keep on having the disease, while with the orthodox method 
and the combs destroyed there’s the end of it.” Pardon me, that may be 
true with regard to American but not with European foul brood. I treated 
the disease after the most orthodox fashion, destroying, as I have said, 
hundreds of combs, and so far as I could see, the disease was just as willing 
to return as with the drastic treatment. I think I’d rather keep brood 
and combs. 
With reference to the Alexander plan of treating this disease 
as practised by Dr. Miller and others, it is well to repeat what 
has already been said, that no method has ever been found for 
eliminating American foul brood without destroying the combs. 
This method applies only to European foul brood and sacbrood, 
a mild disease described later on. 
European foul brood was long known as black brood and first 
appeared in the East. It was known in New York for a number 
of years before it made an appearance in the Central West. 
While there are still many localities where it is not present it 
has spread into practically all parts of the country. 
Sources of Infection—The spread of American foul brood 
in the neighborhood of the diseased colonies is usually by means 
of robber bees which visit those which, because of their weak- 
ened condition, are no longer able to defend their stores, and 
disease is thus rapidly spread. Every bee-keeper should guard 
against the robbing of weak colonies. In case a colony dies from 
disease the hive should be at once removed, the contents 
destroyed, and the hive and fixtures thoroughly disinfected. 
