CHESHIRE, SEPTEMBER 1, 1884, 23 
The Bee Keepers’ Record says, in referring to my paper, ‘‘Whether phenol is 
really a specific for foul-brood time alone will show, but we urge our readers to give 
it a thorough trial.” I reply that all that could be done to prevent phenol succeeding 
I have done. I have heaped up difficulties: given bees such combs as I venture 
to say they have never received before in the history of bee keeping; secured the 
most virulent type of the disease I could discover, and yet in seventeen days a most 
perfectly healthy aspect is presented, and the bees, with brood in their six frames, 
are hard at work comb-building. I assert, with all the positiveness I can command, 
that phenol, upon my plan, is a specific, and only needs a careful and correct applica- 
tion. 
Bee keepers who have had experience in the treatment of foul 
brood can decide, first, whether such phenomenal results as Cheshire 
has recorded are to be expected, and, second, whether from one 
experiment like this he should have asserted so positively that the 
method is a specific one. 
The method advocated by Cheshire was given a trial, however, 
by many bee keepers, especially in England. To indicate what 
harm might ensue from such immature work, we quote from a few 
who followed his advice. A questioner! gives the following from 
his experience: 
Having used carbolic acid as a prophylactic in the apiary for more than fifteen 
years, I was delighted to learn that Mr. Cheshire, by putting a little amongst syrup 
and pouring it into the brood-cells of a virulently diseased stock, had succeeded 
in effecting a complete cure. To test its power in this way I procured a bottle of 
medicated material prepared under Mr. Cheshire’s guarantee, and began to treat a 
stock, thoroughly foul-brooded, according to the method prescribed—on the 30th 
August last. 
Circumstances were all favourable, such as a high temperature, a breeding queen, 
and bees carrying in pollen. No heat was allowed to escape from the stock through 
imperfect covering. But although the treatment has been carried on till now (Oct. 
20th), there is no more abatement of disease than usually takes place when egg-laying 
becomes languid. The population is getting reduced; the cells perforated and 
closed are filled with gluey, putrid matter, and the stench emitted is scarcely less 
offensive than formerly. 
What the treatment can effect in spring and summer, when greater heat and activity 
prevail, remains to be tested; but from what has come under my observation I have 
come to the conclusion that unless the apiarian himself clear out every foul cell, no 
virulently diseased hive can be restored to perfect health in the autumn by administer- 
ing phenol as Mr. Cheshire directs. 
From another bee keeper? we quote the following: 
I have used Mr. Cheshire’s cure, and followed his directions to the best of my 
. ability, but it has proved in my case a complete failure. 
From another * the following is quoted: 
During the latter end of July I observed that three of my bar-frame hives were 
affected with foul brood. I was a little puzzled what to do, as I never had had any 
1 Questioner, November 1, 1884. Phenol no cure in autumn. British Bee Journal, Vol. XII, No. 157, 
| pooid. 
2 Johnston, Arthur B., November 1, 1884. Is phenol a cure forfoul brood? British Bee Journal, Vol. 
XII, No. 157, p. 379. 
3 Veritas, November 15, 1884. Foul brood. British Bee Journal, Vol. XII, No. 158, pp. 399-400. 
