The Isle of Wight Bee Disease. 63 



widely that in 19()(S most of the original stocks in the island 

 had perished. A study of the literature relating to bee 

 diseases in several countries reveals the fact that symptoms 

 essentially similar to those exhibited by bees suffering from^ 

 the Isle of Wight epidemic, have been known for many years. 

 There is, therefore, every probability that the disease is not a 

 new one occurring in the island. Records testify that the 

 disease was probably present in Derbyshire in 1902, in Corn- 

 wall in 1904, and in other districts. Furthermore, many of 

 the extensive losses of bees that have been described since 

 about the middle of the eighteenth century are most likely 

 due to this disease, though thej^ have been attributed to 

 dysentery, paralysis, and various other causes. 



In 1907 the present writer was appointed by the Board of 

 Agriculture to investigate the outbreak of the bee disease in 

 the Isle of Wight, but was compelled, owing to taking up an 

 appointment in India, to relinquish the study after a few 

 weeks' work. The observations that were made up-to-date are 

 summarised in a brief report on the subject (Inims, 1907). 

 The Board of Agriculture afterwards secured the services of 

 Dr. W. Maiden to carry forward the investigation, who pub- 

 lished a report thereon two j^ears later (Maiden, 1909). 



Subsequently four other observers joined forces with Dr. 

 Maiden in order to attempt thoroughly to solve the problems 

 connected with the disease. Of these four investigators, Drs. 

 Fantham and Porter are well-known protozoologists ; Mr. 

 G. W. Bullamore is a scientific bee-keeper of wide experience ; 

 Dr. Graham-Smith is an able pathologist ; while Dr. Maiden, 

 it may be added, is thoroughly experienced in the bacteriology 

 of the hive. As the i-esult of the conjoint labours of these five 

 observers, a great deal of valuable information has come to 

 light, and is embodied in the reports published under their 

 names {vide Graham-Smith and Others, 1912 and 191H). 



Symptoms. 



Bees attacked with the Isle of Wight disease exhibit certain 

 symptoms which are now well-known and easily recognisable. 

 No one symptom, however, can be regarded as definitely 

 characteristic of the disease and invariably in evidence. The 

 present writer found that one of the earliest symptoms of the 

 disease is the inability of most of the affected bees to fly more 

 than a few yards without alighting. As the disease progresses 

 the bees frequently can fly only a few feet from the hive, and 

 then drop, and crawl aimlessly over the ground. They may 

 then often be seen crawling up grass stems or up the supports 

 of the hive. In many badly infected stocks great numbers of 

 bees with distended abdomens may be seen crawling over the 



