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A Cause Suggested

Categories: DISEASED BROOD.
Bee Keeping: Mysteries Of Bee-keeping Explained

We are all familiar to some extent with the contagious diseases of the

human family, such as small-pox, whooping-cough, and measles, and their

rapid spread from a given point, &c. We must also admit that some cause

or causes, adequate to the effect, must have produced the first case.

To contagion, then, I would attribute the spread of this disease of our

bees, at least nineteen cases in twenty. I will admit, if you please,
/> that one stock in twenty or fifty may be somewhat affected by a chill

to a small extent. It is only a portion of the brood that is in

danger--only such as have been sealed over, and before they have

progressed to the chrysalis state, are attacked. How many then can

there be in a hive at any one time, in just the right stage of

development to receive the fatal chill? Of course there will be some;

but they should be confined to the cells near the bottom, where the

bees had left them exposed. These should be all; and these few would

never seriously damage the stock. Why then does this disease, when

thoroughly started, spread so rapidly throughout all the combs in the

hive? Will it be said that the chill is repeated every few days through

the summer? Or will it be admitted that something else may continue it?



I think there must be other causes, besides the chill, even to start

it, in most cases. As our practice will be in accordance with the view

we take of this matter, and the result of our course will be somewhat

important, I will give some of the reasons that have led to this

conclusion.



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