Aaron,
In response to your comments about the amount of antibiotic taken in by
the bees from a patty  and the comparison made with the method of
administrating the bees with antibiotic and sugar powder.
By dusting the frames and /or bees with a set amount of "powder" does
not ensure that the bees have consumed a set dose of antibiotic either!
If it does, then I have missed something and am very willing to be told
what it is!
Regards
Peter