DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES. 185 



bad odour like stinking animal matter, as indeed it is, 

 and on examining the combs they will be found here 

 and there black on the surface, with the cells having 

 their caps somewhat concave, with minute perforations ; 

 on removal of the caps the cells will be found to contain 

 a foul-smelling, sticky, semi-liquid, coffee-coloured mass, 

 which may be drawn out into threads like heated glue; 

 the dead larvae may also be found in all lesser stages of 

 decomposition. Other cells will be found in which the 

 liquid has dried, leaving at the bottom a mass containing 

 highly infectious fungus spores, from which it may easily 

 be imagined how every comb. Bee, and drop of honey in 

 a foul-brood hive becomes a centre of infection, spread- 

 ing the disease far and near. If we at any time discover 

 in the combs dead and rotting larvae, excise the whole 

 comb, or at any rate such portions as contain the foul 

 cells. If the disease has not made much progress, it 

 may perhaps be thus stopped, but the combs should 

 receive a thorough examination frequently, to see if any 

 more work for the knife appear. Dr. Schonberg says, 

 that the disease in its wet state is not contagious, 

 although this is denied by some eminent Apiarians. 

 In manipulating or examining frames containing larvae, 

 care should be taken that the larvae do not get chilled 

 and die, for thus maybe created just the nidus necessary 

 for the fungus to flourish. 



Dysentery. — This is another disease, which is some- 

 times very destructive to Bees, and in some phases runs 

 very close to foul-brood, many Bee-keepers yet main- 

 taining they are one and the same thing. Dysentery is a 

 disease of the Bees, sometimes extending to the larvae. 

 Foul-brood never extends to the Bees. There is no 

 doubt, however, how dysentery is often caused ; improper 

 or too hquid food, cold, damp, and confinement will all 



