HOWARD, FEBRUARY 15, 1900. 46 



stating his own conception of the disease. In giving his own view 

 of the symptoms of tlio disoaso, and in pointing out tlio differences 

 which ho supposed existed between ''black brood," "foul brood," 

 and "pickled brood," the writings of Howard indicate, as is evi- 

 denced by the following quotation, that he himself had a very inaccu- 

 rate conception of the brood diseases of bees. 



SYMPTOMS AND COURSE. 



Brood is usually attacked late in the larval life, and dies during pupation, or later 

 when nearly mature and ready to come forth through the chrysalis capping. Even 

 after leaving the cell they are so feeble that they fall from the combs helpless. Most 

 of the brood dies after it is sealed. In this it is much like pickled brood, except that 

 as much or more brood dies in the late larval stage than in the pupa. In foul brood, 

 while brood of all ages dies, yet more dies "at the ages of 6, 7, 8, and 9 days than at 

 any other age" (author's Foul Brood p. 46), even before the rich chyle-like food mixed 

 with pollen is given, which is such a necessary environment for pickled brood and 

 black brood. 



When the larvse show the first signs of this disease, there appears a brownish spot 

 on the body, about the size of a pinhead. The larvae may yet receive nourishment 

 for a day or two; but as the fermentation increases the brownish spot enlarges, the 

 larva dies, stands out, swollen and sharp at the ends. In this they are like pickled 

 brood, except that the brown spot is not present in pickled brood, but pickled brood 

 sometimes becomes brown after death. Foul brood turns brown only after the action 

 of the putrefactive germs have brought about decomposition. No decomposition 

 from putrefactive germs takes place in pickled brood. In black brood the dark and 

 rotten masses, in time, break down and settle to the lower side of the cells, as a watery, 

 sjT^py, granular liquid — not the sticky, ropy, balsam or glue-like semi-fluid substance 

 of foul brood. It does not adhere to the cell walls like that of foul brood; has not the 

 characteristic foul odor which attracts carrion-flies, but a sour, rotten-apple smell, 

 and not even a house-fly will set her foot upon it. Cappings in foul brood are sunken 

 in the center when broken, sometimes puffed out by internal gases. In black brood, 

 the cap is distiu-bed from without, sometimes uncapped, and cell contents removed 

 by the bees; not so in foul brood. The cap in pickled brood is usually undisturbed. 

 The decayed brood masses do not adhere to the cell walls like either of the others. 



The defect in Howard's description of the appearance of the brood 

 which has probably caused the greatest confusion has reference to the 

 color of the larvae dead of the disease. In the following quotation 

 he mentions the dark and black color of the brood, which according 

 to him was so marked that it suggested the name "black brood." 



On account of the character of the dead brood; its beginning with a dark spot on the 

 larva, which increases in size, becomes darker, and finally black, for convenience and 

 brevity the name black brood has been suggested, and this name is used in the text. 



Since the so-called black brood is in all probabilit}^ European foul 

 brood, many bee keepers expect to find black larvae in this disease. 

 Occasionally some of the larvae may be black, but black larvae are 

 seldom found. If the bee keeper will bear this fact in mind he will be 

 veiy much aided in understandmg the brood diseases of bees. 



From samples of the so-called black brood, Howard reports that 

 he isolated two new species of bacteria. The one he named Bacillus 



