DISEASES, &o. 



189 



to such an extent as to render bee-keeping therein an 

 impostibility. 





Kb. 109. 

 COMB INFECTED BY FOUL BROOD. 



350. Symptoms. — The first signs of the presence of foul 

 brood are manifested in the larvse from the age of one to five 

 days. At that age, healthy larvae occupy the combs in regular 

 patches of brood, the larvas being pearly white, and lying on 

 their sides, curled up in shape of a crescent, at the bottoms of 

 the cells. When disease sets in, the larva assumes a different 

 position (Fig. loga) ; loses its plumpness and whiteness; and 

 takes an unhealthy buff, or yellow tint which, as the disease 

 developes into death, changes to brown. Then follows decom- 

 position ; the mass settles in the bottom of the cell as a rotten, 

 glutinous, coffee-coloured matter which frequently gives off 

 an intolerable stench. This stench is not invariably present ; 

 but it is seldom entirely absent, and, in cases of full develop- 

 ment, it may often be detected some yards from the affected 

 hives ; it resembles the smell given off by old, melted glue ; 

 and, once experienced, is never forgotten. The bees do not 

 appear to make any attempt to carry out the foul matter when 

 once it has reached the point of decomposition ; sometimes 

 they fill up the cell with honey, covering the foul matter be- 

 neath, and thus contaminating the food which, when supplied 

 to larva;, infects and kills. Finally, the putrid mass shrinks, 

 and clings to the lower side of the cell in the form of a stiff, 

 black scale. Larvae, attacked at a later period of their growth, 

 and sealed up in their cells, die, decompose, and turn to dry scale 



