89 



this final stage, it is advisable to destroy by fire the contents of the 

 hive, leaving only the shell for future use. If the hive is an old one 

 it should be burnt as well. 



Foul Brood. Thibd Stage (B. alvbi). 



American Foul Brood (Bacillus larvae) This disease is not 



quite so widespread as the other form, of Foul Brood. When the 

 larvae are first attacked they turn a light chocolate colour, and as the 

 disease advances they become darker, resembling roasted coffee in 

 appearance. This disease appears to attack the larvae at a later stage 

 than the other form of Foul Brood, usually about the time the brood 

 cells are capped over. As the disease progresses the larvae shrink in 

 size, with the result that the cappings become sunken and perforated. 

 A glance over the brood combs will reveal the presence of great 

 numbers of these cells with indented cappings. Within will be seen 

 the shrivelled portion of the larvae which have died from the disease. 

 The colour of this diseased mass will be dark brown. If a match is 

 inserted and slowly removed the decomposed material will attach itself 

 to the wood and stretch in a long line before breaking. The decaying 

 matter has a pronounced and rather offensive odour. This disease 

 does not bring about the extinction of the colony as quickly as the 

 other form of Foul Brood, but nevertheless it is fatal in the long run. 



