21 



cure is effected by the intervention of the b)dy cell. The efli'otiveaess of the 

 remerly is due to the fact that it acts aa a sticaulns and exalts the natural 

 forces of the body. 



Whether the drugs uped in the treatment of foul brood act antiseptioally 

 or by stimulating the crlls of the bee and making them more active to ward 

 off the diKsase, is a matter of doubt ; but it mubt be admitted that certain 

 drugs do stem to etIVct a cure, and home of them are regarded as specifics by 

 practical beekeepers. 



In taking up the different methods of chemical treatment, I shall as far 

 as possible describe them in the chronological order. 



(1) Carbolic acid. Carbolic acid was first proposed by Butlerow (52), 

 who recommf nded one part of acid to 600 of syrup, this proportion being the 

 limit in which one caa give the remedy to bees. Cech (53) in a work 

 published in 1H77, alto recommend* d carbolic acid 



The Cheshire treatment (26) consists in using a treatment containixig half 

 a decilitre of carbolic acid in a litre of wiiter, thoroughly shaking it up until 

 the acid is enirely diFSolved, and using half a decilitre of this in a litre of 

 syrup. In this treatment it is also necessary to reduce the infected stock to 

 the numbfr of frames it can use, and if the queen is diseased to destroy her 

 and substitute a healthy one. The sjrup is given by pouring it into the 

 empty cells of the brood nest. 



This method of treatment his been frtqnently repcrted to be successful ; 

 but there have been many failures, perhaps partly owing to the fact that it is 

 difficult to get the bees to take the medicated syrup 



Experiments on the Antiseptic Value of Carbolic Acid According to 

 McKei zie (28), two per cent, carbolic acid does not kill the eporesin six days. 

 One per five hna|Jred of the acid prevented the germination of the spores, but 

 when taken out of the solution and placed in ordinary beef broth it gave 

 luxuriant growth. Hence McKeczie thinks that the explanation of the value 

 of carbolated syrup in the treatment of foul bro^d consists in preventing the 

 germination of the spores. The bee journals refer to numerous instances in 

 which feeding carbolated syrup produced an improvement in diseased stock ; 

 but as soon as the treatment stopped, the disease broke out afresh. 



Salycylic Acid. The salycylic acid treatment was first used by Hilbert 

 in 1876. The following is the method of use : 

 Solution of Hilbert No 1 — Pure salycylic acid, 12J grams ; alcohol, 100 



grams. 

 Solution of Hilbert No. 2 — 200 drops of solution No. 1 (about five grams) 



in 200 grams of distilled water or rain water. 

 Fumigation — One or two grams of the pure acid for fumigation. 

 Syrup — From 200 to 240 drops of Solution No. 1 (or about 5 to 6 grams) in 



a litre of syrup, well mixed before the syrup cools. 



As soon as the disease is noticed the hive is disinfected and the syrup 

 fed ; and this treatment is also used for other coloniea as a preventive treat- 

 ment. The fumigation is accomplished in a kind of tin lantern furnished 

 with a small alcohol lamp, suspended over which is a small movable trough 

 for placing the acid in. The flame of the lamp is regulated in such a manner 

 that the acid is liquified and slowly evaporated without burning. Too great 

 heat will decompose it and render it ineffective. The fumes of the acid 

 spread through the hive in the form of a white vapour. Whilst the fumi- 

 gation is in progress the entrance boards and all parts that can be disinfected 

 are washed with No. 2 solution. Fumigation and washing are repeated 

 every 4 or 5 days until a cure is effected. The diseased colonies receive, 



