TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 13 



the use of honey from diseased colonies for feeding bees. It is not 

 ahvays necessary that bees be intentionally fed for them to get dis- 

 ease from contaminated honey. Discarded honey receptacles which 

 have contained honey from a contaminated colony, if not thoroughly 

 cleaned, may contain enough honey to carry disease to a healthy 

 I'.piary. This may occur in the vicinity of bakeries or confectionery 

 shops, or may even occur when empty honey bottles are thrown out 

 from private houses. It is also possible to introduce disease into a 

 colony in introducing queen bees purchased from a distance, probably 

 due to the use of contaminated honey in making the candy to supply 

 tlie queen cages. 



Precautionary Measures. 



In combating diseases it is much better to prevent disease from 

 getting a foothold than it is to eradicate it after it has begun its 

 work. All beekeepers, wherever located, should practice the fol- 

 lowing precautionary measures : 



(1) If a colony becomes weak from any cause, or if disease is 

 suspected, contract the entrance to prevent robbing, and if robbing 

 is imminent close the entrance entirely. 



(2) Never feed honey purchased on the open market. In case of 

 doubt as to the source of honey feed sugar sirup. 



(o) If within the range of possibility, see that no honey that comes 

 from diseased apiaries is sold in the neighborhood. This may some- 

 times be accomplished by cultivating the home market so that there 

 will be no incentive for bringing in other honey. 



(4) In introducing purchased queens, transfer them to clean cages 

 provided with candy known to be free from contamination, and 

 destroy the old cage, candy, and accompanying Avorkers. Of course, 

 if it is certain that the queen comes from a healthy apiary this is not 

 necessary. 



(5) Colonies of bees should never be purchased unless it is cer- 

 tain that they are free from disease. 



(6) The purchase of old combs or second-hand supplies is dan- 

 gerous, unless it is certain that they came from healthy apiaries. 



TREATMENT FOR BOTH INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 



The treatment of an infectious bee disease consists primarily in the 

 elimination or removal of the cause of the disease. It is definitely 

 known that American foul brood is caused by a bacillus named 

 Bacillus larvce. In treating this disease, therefore, the aim of the 

 manipulation is to remove or destroy all of the bacteria of this 

 species. It should be remembered that the effort is not to save the 

 larvse that are already dead or dying, but to stop the further de- 



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