Bee Keeping - Foul Brood

Among the diseases of bees, foul brood takes first rank. The success of the most convenient method of curing it (and the one I shall give) would indicate that the cause of the disease is in the honey; but the disease itself is developed in the young brood, causing it to die, usually before it is sealed over. It may also lurk in and about the hive, and a hive that has contained a diseased colony should not be again used for any purpose till thoroughly disinfected by boiling.

When a colony is badly diseased it may frequently be known by the odor without opening the hive. To me it is very much like that given off by the melting of bad glue.

It may be quite readily known on examination of the combs, especially if badly diseased. If but few cells of brood are affected it may not be detected by one not acquainted with it, and if extracted honey is taken may readily be communicated to every colony, for it is very contagious.

When the brood first dies it usually has the appearance of pus, or " matter," and settles down in the lower back corner of the cell, and is light colored; but the longer it is dead the darker it becomes, sometimes getting almost black.

If the disease is suspected, take a pin and with the head slowly attempt to remove the putrid mass from one of the cells. If it clings to the pin and also to the cell, and stretches out like a thread of rubber, and finally lets go the pin and draws back into the cell, it is quite safe to call it foul brood.

Being so contagious, it by many, is considered difficult to cure; so much so that it is directed to burn a good log or brush-heap, and when well on fire throw the hive, bees and all, into the fire. But this is a useless waste, the bees, hive, and frames may be saved and the combs melted into wax. Probably the best way is to have a starving box to hold about a peek, with one side off, or an empty hive may be used. Shake and brush all the bees ,of the diseased colony into the starving box and cover the open side with wire cloth; so that not a bee can escape, and do not let a single bee from the colony being treated go to any other colony, for it will be pretty sure to carry the disease with it. Set this box in a cool, dark place, where no bees can reach it, placing the box so that the wire cloth will be on the side, not on the top or bottom.

Now melt the combs into wax, and thoroughly boil the hive and frames and everything connected with it, in water, and it is again ready for use. Do not use the old location again unless it has been thoroughly scalded, ground and all, with boiling water, or covered one or more inches deep with salt, which is to be left to be dissolved by the rains and dews.

After the bees have been in the box two or more days some of the bees will be seen falling to the bottom, having consumed all the honey taken with them, and are actually starving. If they were well filled with honey when put in the box it may be six or more days before the honey is all used up. When a few bees fall to the bottom, say 100, more or less, and are crawling slowly about, they may be placed in the boiled or some other hive that has been prepared with foundation or starters.

I would not use any comb for a few days, for if any, of the bees should still have any foul honey it would be deposited in the cells and so continue the disease.

The bees in the starving-box must be very closely watched, for when their honey is all consumed they soon die. Look at them several times a day after the second day.

To cleanse the hands or anything else that it will not do to put into boiling water, prepare a solution of salycilic acid as follows:

Salycilic acid, 16 grs.; borax, 16 grs.; water, 1 oz. Put in a bottle and shake often till the acid and borax are dissolved.