The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-06-11
Control of Bee
Disease Is Seen
American Foul-Brood Can
Be Controlled by Water
Formalin Solution.


prepared by the United States Department
e of Agriculture.l
Widespread interest has been
aroused throughout the beekeeping in
dustry by the apparent success of
some recently discovered disinfectant
methods in the treatment and con-
troll of American foul-brood. Disin-
fectants such as an alcohol-formalin
solution are being used with fair sue
cess, and eliminate to great ex-
tent the large losses previously
caused by the necessary destruction
Of all combs infected with this dis
ease of the brood of bees.
The use of the alcohol-formalin
solution as disinfectant is step in
advance in the control of the dis
ease, says the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, but apparently
there is still room for improvement
which will eliminate the danger of oc-
casional cases Of failure. For that
reason, and because of the great in
terest in the subject, the bee culture
laboratory started preliminary work
early in 1924 for the purpose Of maxi
ing an exhaustive study of the eff
cheney of various disinfectants, in
Guiding the commercial alcohol-fOrma-
lin solution as well as water-formalin
solutions.
Results of Tests.
A discussion of the results Of the
tests completed to date has been pub
lished in Department Circular 284,
which is now ready for distribution. It
was hoped that the results of the
investigation by laboratory methods
would form basis for practical work
in the apiary. AS the work has de-
veloped, numerous difficulties have
been encountered which indicate that
the problem Of the perfect steriliza-
ton of American foul-brood combs is
neither simple nor yet fully solved.
The results obtained with various
dilutions Of alcohol and of alcohol
formalin solution as the carrier for
20 per cent of their volume of formalin
are not sufficiently complete to war
efficiency. All of these solutions are
unsatisfactory, in that they do not
completely sterilize all sealed cells
in 48 hours. A 20 per cent solution
Of formalin in water, without alcohol,
is slightly less efficient than the al
coholic solutions in sterilizing in 4S
hours the contents of sealed cells, be-
cause of it's failure to penetrate many
of the cappings; but it sterilizes all
open cells in that period.
Satisfactory Results.
In view of the cultural results OBJ
tanned, however, 20 per cent solu-
ton of formalin in water was found
the most satisfactory disinfectant for
sterilizing infected combs, with regard
both to germicidal action and low
cost, provided the proper precautions
are taken. All honey should be ex-
tracted, all brood cappings should be
completely removed, and the combs
should be treated at least twenty
four hours, or forty-eight hours if it
is found desirable to wash them in
water after treatment.
Care must be taken not only with
the process Of disinfecting combs in
fected with American foul-brood, no
matter what solution or method is
used, but equal or greater care must
be exercised in the treatment of the
diseased colonies themselves to elimi-
nate the danger Of recurrence of dis
ease from that source. The success
full sterilization of the combs will
otherwise be of little avail. .
A copy of the circular may be Sc
cured, as long as the supply lasts, by
writing to the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture, Washington. d. c.