TREATMENT OF BEE DISEASES. 9 
keeper. The larva gradually sinks down in the cell and becomes 
darker in color (fig. 2, h, m), and the posterior end lies against the 
bottom of the cell. Frequently the segmentation of the larva is 
clearly marked. By the time it has partially dried down and has 
became quite dark 
brown (coffee col- 
ored) the most 
typical character- 
istic of this disease 
manifests itself. 
If a match stick 
or tooth-pick is in- 
serted into the de- 
caying mass and 
withdrawn the larval remains adhere to it and are drawn out in a 
thread (fig. 3), which sometimes extends for several inches before 
breaking. This ropiness is the chief characteristic used by the bee- 
keeper in diagnosing this disease. The larva continues to dry down 
and gradually loses its ropiness until it finally becomes merely a 
Fic. 3.—The ropiness of American foul brood. (Original.) 
The position of the comb indicates the best way to view the scales. (Original.) 
scale on the lower side wall and base of the cell (fig. 2, e, p, s). The 
scale formed by the dried-down larva adheres tightly to the cell and 
can be removed with difficulty from the cell wall. The scales can 
best be observed when the comb is held with the top inclined toward 
the observer so that a bright light strikes the lower side wall (fig. 4). 
83568°—Bull, 442—11 2 
