210 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES 
of the cells containing dead larve are capped. When the larva 
dies it turns a chocolate or brown color and in advanced stages 
of decay becomes darker. The cappings become sunken, and 
frequently the cappings are perforated by small holes. The most 
common test for this disease is to insert a toothpick or timothy 
straw into the dead tissue and slowly withdraw it. The decaying 
matter stretches out like thick molasses, sometimes for an inch 
or two before breaking. After the dead larva has become fully 
dried it forms a dried seale on the lower side of the cell. This 
seale adheres tightly to the cell and can be readily observed by 
holding the comb in front of the eyes at such an angle that the 
light falls into the bottom of the cell and illuminates the lower 
side wall. 
There is also a very characteristic odor clinging to the combs 
containing a badly infected case of foul brood of the American 
form. It is commonly spoken of as a glue-pot odor but that 
hardly describes it. It is, however, a characteristic of the dis- 
ease that can readily be recognized. Queen and drone larve are 
seldom affected hy American foul brood, while the other form 
attacks both queen and drone larvi: at the same stage as worker 
lurvee are affected. Cases are reported where there is a decided 
odor with European foul brood, but the writer does not remem- 
ber ever having seen a case in all the hundreds of apiaries visited. 
The ropy condition of the dead matter together with the odor is 
usually considered as positive evidence of American foul brood. 
When this disease is present the death of a portion of the 
brood gradually decimates the colony until it becomes so weak 
that it can no longer defend its stores and it is likely to be robbed 
out and the honey carried to other colonies. The disease is thus 
spread far and wide. The writer has seen cases where after the 
death of the colony from foul brood the hive was turned over 
and exposcd to the bees by the owner, who was ignorant of the 
real cause of the trouble. The disease was thus needlessly carried 
into every colony of large apiaries. 
The disease is caused by a bacillus technically known as 
