210 



AMERICAN BEE JOUBNAL 



April S, 1900. 



Explanation of Plate ; Mag- 

 nified 600 Diameters- 

 Reduced. 



Fig-. 1. — Bacillus milii. a, 

 spore formation, showing- mor- 

 phological changes, in agar- 

 agarplate culture ; b, peculiar 

 arrangement often noticed in 

 cultures ; c, isolated bacilli, 

 floating in the liquids of the 

 bee or in cultures; </, Zo-Oglea, 

 showing the most common ar- 

 rangement of the spores at the 

 center, and the separation of 

 the bacilli from the mass. 



Fig. 2. — Bacillus thoracis, a 

 showing rods arranged end to 

 end as occurs in cultures ; b, 

 peculiar arrangement seen in 

 agar-agar drop cultures, show- 

 ing spores by fission ; c, Zo- 

 Oglea, showing common ar- 

 rangement of the mass. 



Fig. 3. — Mucor, a showing 

 the spore-bearing heads ; b, 

 showing these heads discharg- 

 ing the spores. Common on 

 decaying matter. 



Fig. 4 — Aspergillus pollinis, 

 the fungus causing "Pickled 

 Brood." 



Fig. S, Fungi. — a, Hender- 

 soniapolycystis. Fungus found 

 on dead twigs, grasses, etc.; 

 \erj common;b, Daclyliu»! ros- 

 eum, appears as pinkish rose- 

 ate spots on decaying vegeta- 

 tion ; very common ; c, Massa- 

 ria, var.; d and e, fungi not 

 common — not placed ; unim- 

 portant. 



Figs. 6 and 7, spore-bearing 

 organs of fungi. 



Fig. 6, a, transparent spore- 

 receptacle intact ; b, same, 

 showing membrane ruptured 

 and spores escaping. 



Fig. 7. — Contains similar 

 spores in size and shape, which 

 escape thru the membranous 

 pouches triangularly arranged 

 at the dentate periphery. 

 Found in pollen. No culture 

 made. 



Fig. 8. — Penicillium glau- 

 cum, common fungus, found 

 on moldy bread and elsewhere; 

 very common. 



Illustrations in this article are 

 from Gleanings in Bee-Culture. 



action. It is, evidently, now due to a specific germ. Bacillus 

 tnilii: the other, perhaps purely accidental at first, on ac- 

 count of its requiring more oxygen, is now found in the 

 thorax among the respiratory organs. 



While it has not been clearly demonstrated by facts, 

 practically, it appears to be true that perfect bees, especially 

 nurse-bees, are injured by the infection. 



DIFKKRENTIAI, DIAGNOSIS. 



Foul brood, pickled brood, and black brood. Foul brood, 

 due to Bacillus alvei — a specific bacterium. 



Pickled brood, due to Aspergillus pollinis — a specific 

 fungus. 



Black brood, due to Bacillus milii, modified, perhaps, 

 by Bacillus thoracis, specific bacteria. 



Black brood may be introduced into a healthy colony 

 thru infected food or infected combs — combs from which 

 the diseased brood has been removed, or in which particles 

 remain. The food for the young larvs, either from its 

 chemical reaction or from its lack of nitrogenous substan- 

 ces, is not a suitable medium for immediate growth of the 

 germs ; but when the chyle-like food is furnisht the older 

 larvae, a*chemical change in the food produces a change in 

 the liquids of the bee, which become a suitable nutrient 

 medium for their rapid development and dissemination. It 

 would appear that, in some cases. Bacillus thoracis was the 

 cause of death, as the spiracles, or openings admitting air 

 to the respiratory apparatus, were closed by the products of 

 decomposition or the result of it. In such cases it is usually 



