Bob writes:
> Even back when the only industry issues were foulbrood

There has never been such a time. There have always been many more pests and parasites than just foul brood. Read this from 100 years ago:

A few years ago it was considered that bees were freer from disease than perhaps any other class of animated nature, for the reason that individual members of the colonies were so constantly giving way to the younger ones. But this has been shown to be, to a great extent, a mistake : for apparently there are at least three or four distinct diseases with which the bee-keeper has to contend ; and it is well for the beginner to have an idea, at least, of what they are like : for the time to cure a disease of a contagious character is to take it at the start, or, better still, take precautionary measures such as will prevent its making even a beginning.

HOW TO AVOID DISEASES.
Contagious diseases spread very rapidly among bees, just as they are inclined to make rapid headway in crowded centers of the human family. Unfortunately, bees are disposed to rob from each other during a dearth of honey; and if the germs of disease of infection reside in the honey, they may be scattered over the entire apiary in a few days. An infected colony is naturally weakened and discouraged, and iis a result the bees do not make the defense that they would under normal conditions. During a dearth of honey the healthy bees all over the yard are quite disposed to rob the weak or sick ones, so that the infection is scattered right and left.

One of the best precautions against disease is good food, and keeping all colonies strong. A healthy human being is much more able to resist the germs of infection than one who is " all run down." A person, for instance, is not likely to come down with typhoid unless his system is greatly reduced. Then it is that the typhoid germs, which may be ever present, take hold and begin their insidious work. Another wise piecaution is to keep all tools and clothing, and every thing that has been in contact with a diseased colony, away from the healthy ones. If one does not know what the disease is he should be on the safe side and proceed as if the sick colony were infected with the worst infection known to bee culture.

TWO CLASSES OF DISEASES.
The diseases with which the bee-keeper has to contend may be divided into two classes — those that affect the mature flying bees, and those that attack the brood. Among the diseases that attack the mature bees may be named "spring dwindling." This, perhaps, could hardly be considered a disease, but it is a malady with which we have to deal. For particulars regarding this, see Wintering. Still another trouble is dysentery. This in some cases may be a germinal disease ; and in most cases it assumes the nature of an ordinary diarrhea. See Dysentery. The only disease of any account now remaining that affects adult bees is bee-paralysis.


The ABC and XYZ of bee culture: a cyclopedia of everything pertaining to the care of the honey-bee; bees, hives, honey, implements, honey-plants, etc. Facts gleaned from the experience of thousands of bee-keepers, and afterward verified in our apiary
Authors	Amos Ives Root, Ernest Rob Root
Publisher	The A. I. Root company, 1908

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