BEE DISEASES 157 



When the case is discovered, at once replace the cover, 

 and mark the colony in some way so that it can easily be 

 found again without opening others. When the bees 

 have ceased flying for the day, get a boiler ready — large 

 enough to take all the frames at once — with a fierce fire 

 underneath to boil the water vigorously. (Of course 

 steam would be better). Get a clean hive and some new 

 frames of foundation placed near to the colony to be 

 treated. Remove the diseased stock from its stand, and 

 lay down two large sheets of newspaper, substituting the 

 new hive. A bucket of carbolic acid solution should be 

 available for washing the hands and smoker, etc. 



Open the diseased colony, lift out the frames sepa- 

 rately, shake the bees on to the paper before the clean 

 hive, and at once immerse the combs in the boiling water. 

 Keep them submerged for 15 minutes. The free wax on 

 top of the water may then be skimmed off and 1. lb. of 

 washing soda added to the water which is allowed to boil 

 for a further period. The frames should now be lifted 

 from the boiler and the hive-body, lid, and bottom-board 

 plunged in for a few minutes; all are then hung out in 

 the weather for a few days. W^hile the boiling has been 

 receiving attention, the bees will have taken possession 

 of their new home. When they are all in, fasten a piece 

 of wire cloth over the entrance so that no bees can escape, 

 and carry them into the honey-house leaving them until 

 dusk of the third day. They may then be returned to 

 the original stand, which has previously been treated by 

 spraying with carbolic acid solution. The ground 

 afterwards should be turned over with a spade. Tf the 

 colonies are not removed indoors the swarm will some- 

 times desert the hive next morning and unite with one 

 of its neighbours. There is thus a danger of transmitting 

 the disease, although up to the present the author has not 

 had a case from this source. 



Occasionally after this treatment the foul brood will 

 again appear should the queen be diseased. A cure is 

 then impossible until her removal. Although the name 

 specifies "brood" the adult bees also suffer, but it is 



