145 



DISEASES OF SILKWORMS. 



In European climates the caterpillars of the silk- 

 worm are liable to many diseases, probably the con- 

 sequence of inexperience in their mode of treatment. 



In France and Italy it has long been a common 

 >ractice to give a certain quantity of silkworms to 

 he peasantry to be reared, and in such hands, as 

 might have been expected, the successful cultivation 

 f these was long but imperfectly known ; and it 

 was not till the patriotic exertions of Count Dandolo, 

 hat distinct and settled notions were thought of for 

 mproving the rearing, and preserving, in a healthy 

 ondition, this most valuable of all insects. He 

 iligently studied the habits of the silkworm in its 

 arious metamorphoses, and immediately made 

 nown every discovery he had made, either by his 

 vritings or by giving personal instructions to those 

 oncerned in the propagation of the worms. He 

 ublished an enlightened treatise on the subject, 

 rhich soon led to the formation of large establish- 

 lents inLombardy. These were named Dandolieres, 

 i honour of this patriotic nobleman. 



Damp stagnant air, and the presence of carbonic 

 cid gas, appears to be one of the proximate causes 



