82 HISTOBICAL NOTES ON BEE DISEASES. 



larvse. The "microorganism" named S'pirochseie apis by Maassen 

 (p. 72) was shown to be giant whips which have their origin in the 

 growth of Bacillus larva&. 



Phillips, December 31, 1907. 



In connection with the study of American foul brood it was noticed 

 that the scales formed by the drying dowTi of the dead larvae are not 

 destroyed if the comb becomes infested with either of the two wax 

 moths. These observations were recorded in a publication * of this 

 bureau. Sometimes it is desirable to have the dried scales of Amer- 

 ican foul brood in large quantities. These can be easily obtained 

 free from the comb by allowing a well dried and badly diseased 

 sample to become infested with wax moths. 



Maassen, 1908. 



Another paper ^ by Maassen appeared in 1908. In his former pu'oli- 

 cations this author has dealt with only one form of foul brood. In this 

 paper, however, he states that two forms of the disease have been 

 known for many years, a "mild" form and a "virulent" one. 



Maassen's description of the gross appearance of the brood affected 

 with the "mild" form is similar to that given by Dzierzon (p. 18) and 

 others. The disease therefore is quite probably European foul brood. 

 This view is further strengthened by the bacteriological examinations 

 which he reports. His description of the "virulent" form is also 

 similar to that given by Dzierzon (p.' 18) and others. The condition 

 is most Hkely, therefore, American foul brood. 



Following the discussion of these two forms of "foul brood" Maassen 

 discusses the etiology of "foul brood." He expresses the belief that 

 foul brood is a disease of the digestive apparatus of the larvae and can 

 be produced by various causes. As producers of "foul brood" 

 Bacillus alvei, Streptococcus apis, and Bacillus hrandenhurgiensis are 

 mentioned by him. Besides these three species he reports the pres- 

 ence in the diseased brood of a species of yeast and spore-bearing 

 bacilli. Bacillus alvei and Streptococcus apis are reported to have been 

 found in both forms of foul brood, while Bacillus hrandenhurgiensis was 

 found in only one of them. 



In that form of the disease in which uncapped brood seemed mostly 

 to be affected, Maassen reports the presence of Bacillus alvei in 51 

 samples out of the 53 examined. When Bacillus alvei predominated 

 in the sample, he interpreted the odor as being more "sweat-like" in 

 character than when Streptococcus apis was in predominance; and 



I Phillips, E. F. December 31, 1907. AVax moths and American foul brood. U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture, Bureau of Entomology, Bulletin No. 75, Part II. Pp. 19-22. 



'Maassen, Dr. Albert, 1908. Zur Atiologie der sogenannten Faulbrut der Honigbienen. Arbeiten aus 

 der kaiserlichen biologischen Anstalt fur Land- und Forstwirtschaft. Bd. VI, Heft I, pp. 53-70. 2 pis. 



