THE DISEASES OF BEES. 137 



From what we have said of this disease it will be 

 seen that it is most important for any one about to 

 commence bee-keeping to be sure the stocks he may 

 purchase are not only themselves free from disease, 

 but come from an apiary absolutely uninfected 

 by it. Many a beginner in apiculture has been so 

 disheartened, and has suffered such severe loss from 

 foul-brood in his hives, that he has given up bee- 

 keeping in disgust. We need hardly say that any 

 man who knowingly sold hives with foul-brood in 

 them, would deserve to be visited with penalties for 

 damages, which we have no doubt his victim could 

 obtain by legal process. 



Some writers enumerate vertigo, or giddiness and 

 staggering, among the diseases of bees. We incline 

 to the belief that cases of the kind observed were 

 due to the individuals having been stung in fighting, 

 though it is possible that mistakes in pasturage may 

 occasionally be made, and that the nectar of certain 

 flowers may induce disorder in the bee-constitution. 

 We, however, doubt the likelihood of the quick senses 

 of the insect being at fault with regard to food which 

 will prove hurtful. 



One other malady has been occasionally noticed, 

 viz., the swelling of the terminal segments of the 

 antennae. The occurrence of this mischief is too rare 

 to need further remark, beyond the suggestion that 

 it may be the result of -microbe germs haying made 

 a lodgment in the tender organs affected. 



There is a striking analogy in the results of in- 

 sanitary conditions, and the propagation of zymotic 

 disease among the human family and among bees. 



