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PiCKLB-BEOOD. 



" There is a diseased conditioD of the brood called by beekeepers 

 ' pickle-brood,' but practically nothing is known of its cause. It is 

 characterized by a swollen watery appearance of the larvae, usually 

 accompanied by black colour of the head. The larvae usually lie on their 

 backs in the cell, and the head points upward. The colour gradually 

 changes from light yellow to brown after the larva dies. There is no 

 ropiness, and the only odour is that of sour decaying matter, not at all 

 like that of American foul-brood. In case the larvae are capped over, the 

 cappings do not become dark, as in the case of the contagious diseases, 

 but they may be punctured. So far no cause can be given for this 

 disease, and whether or not it is contagious is a disputed point. Usually 

 no treatment is necessary beyond feeding during a dearth of honey, but 

 in very rare cases when the majority of larvae in a comb are dead from 

 this cause the frame should be removed and a clean comb put in its place 

 to make it unnecessary for the bees to clean out so much dead brood." 



Chilled, Oveehbatbd, and Stabved Brood. 

 " Many different external factors may cause brood to die. Such dead 

 brood is frequently mistaken, by persons unfamiliar with the brood 

 diseases, for one or the other of them. Careful examination will soon 

 determine whether dead brood is the result of disease or merely some 

 outside change. If brood dies from chilling or some other such cause, 

 it is usually soon carried out by the workers, and the trouble disappears. 

 No treatment is necessary. Brood which dies from external causes often 

 produces a strong odour in the colony, but wholly unlike that of American 

 foul-brood — merely that of decaying matter. The colour of such brood 

 varies, but the characteristic colours of the infectious diseases are usually 

 absent, the ordinary colour of dead brood being more nearly grey." 



Pal ST OR Paralysis. 



" The disease known to apiarists as palsy or paralysis attacks adult 

 bees. The name is suggestive of the symptoms manifested by the diseased 

 bees. A number of bees affected were received from apiaries in New 

 York State in 1903; bacteriological examinations were made, and several 

 species of bacteria were isolated and some experimental inoculations 

 made, but no conclusions as to the cause of this disorder could be drawn 

 from the results obtained. 



" From a study of the normal flora of the bee it was soon found that 

 there were quite a number of species of bacteria present. This fact 

 stimulated a study of the normal flora. . . . From this point 

 the work can be carried on with the hope that if the disease has a 

 bacterium as an etiological factor it may be found." 



