272 THE BBK keeper's MANtJAt. 



but which is, of all others, the most fatal in its effects. The 

 brood appear to die in the cells, after th^y are sealed over 

 by the bees, and the stench from their decaying bodies in- 

 fects the hive, and seems to paralyze the bees. This dis- 

 ease is, in two instances, attributed by Dzierzon, to feeding 

 bees on " American Honey," or, as we call it, Southern 

 Honey, which is brought from Cuba, and other West India 

 Islands. That such honey is not ordinarily poisonous, is 

 well known : probably that used by him, was taken from 

 diseased colonies. It is well known that if any honey or 

 combs are taken from a hive in which this pestilence ia 

 raging, it will most surely infect the colonies to which they 

 may be given. No foreign honey ought therefore to be ex- 

 tensively u.sed, until its quality has been thoroughly tested. 

 The extreme violence of this disease may be inferred from 

 the fact, that Dzierzon in one season, lost by it, between 

 four and five hundred colonies! As at present advised, if 

 my colonies were attacked by it, I should burn np the bees, 

 combs, honey, frames, and all, from every diseased hive ; 

 and then thoroughly scald and smoke with sulphur, all such 

 hives, and replenish them with bees from a healthy stock. 



There is a peculiar kind of dysentery which does not 

 seem to affect a whole colony, but confines its ravages to a 

 small number of the bees. In the early stages of this dis- 

 ease, those attacked are excessively irritable, and will at- 

 tempt to sting any one who comes near the hives. If dis- 

 sected, their stomachs are found to be already discolored by 

 the disease. In the latter stages of this complaint, they not 

 only lose all their irascibility, but seem very stupid, and may 

 often be seen crawling upon the ground unable to fly. Their 

 abdomens are now unnaturally swollen, and of a much 

 lighter color than usual, owing to their being filled with a 

 yellow matter exceedingly offensive to the smell. I have 

 not yet ascertained the cause of this disease. 



