INFECTIOUS DISEASE OF BEES IN ITALY. 



471 



potatoes they form a dryish, yellow layer, and in milk a tremulous- 

 jelly. A cultivation of the bacillus in milk, sprayed over a honey- 

 comb containing a healthy brood of bee larvae, produced foul-brood. 

 Adult bees fed on material containing bacilli became infected. 

 Inoculation of mice and rabbits with the bacillus gave doubtful 

 results. 



Stamping-out System. — The infected bees, combs, frames and 

 quilts must be destroyed, and the hives thoroughly disinfected, as 

 this is the only way in which the resistant spores can be got rid of. 

 Cowan believes that if foul-brood were under Government inspection 

 and infected hives were destroyed, the disease could be stamped out. 



Fig. 195.— Cultivation on the Sukpacb of Gelatine, x 

 (Cheshire and Chbtne). 



Infectious Disease of Bees in Italy. 



In Italy bees are subject to another infectious malady, and 

 Oanestrini has found bacilli in the bees and in the larvae, which are 

 believed to be the cause of the malady. 



Bacillus of Infectious Disease of Bees (Oanestrini). — Rods 

 2 /i in width and 4 to 6 /a in length, occurring singly, in pairs 

 and in chains, sometimes capsulated. They are motile, and spore- 

 formation is present. They liquefy gelatine, colouring the liquid 

 pink and forming a white deposit. On agar they form a white 

 growth, and on potato fa claret-coloured layer. Cultures are said 

 to be capable of producing the disease in bees and larvae. 



Pebrine. 



The silkworm disease known in Prance as pebrine is characterised 

 by the appearance of black patches on the skin of ttie worms. It 

 was investigated by Cornalia, Nageli, and Pasteur. Pasteur's 



