35 



(e) The debris and faecal matter of the hives of several 

 colonies that had died from Isle of Wight disease was 

 collected by soraping floor boards, frames, &c. This 

 was mixed with water and fed with sugar syrup to 

 healthy colonies. It is doubtful if, in any single case, 

 this method of infection was successful. It should be 

 mentioned that the niaterial was obtained from the 

 hives some time after the death of the colonies, varying 

 from two to twelve months. Presumably the organisms 

 causative of the disease have little vitality outside the 

 bee body, and are killed out by exposure to the 

 atmosphere. 



(/) Honey extracted from combs upon which diseased bees 

 had died during the winter was given to healthy 

 stocks. These bees did not contract the disease. 



Other methods of bringing about infection — such as placing 

 sick bees, numbering from 50 to 500, in healthy colonies ; 

 re-queening a healthy colony with a queen from a diseased 

 stock ; transferring larvae and brood from an unhealthy colony 

 to a healthy colony — were tried many times. The results were, 

 in the main, inconclusive. 



Although some of the latter methods of infection did not 

 always prove successful, yet from a study of the history and 

 spread of the disease, and of the results of the first experiments 

 outlined above, we must regard the Isle of Wight disease as 

 highly oontagious, and beekeepers will be well advised to pay 

 every attention to disinfection of hives and appliances, and to 

 limiting the spread of the disease. 



Preventive Measures. 



Disinfection of Hives, Appliances, &c. 



Hives in which bees have died from the plague should be 

 scraped and thoroughly washed inside and out with a strong 

 solution of formalin (1 in 60). When a large number of 

 hives have to be disinfected, fumigation, properly carried 



