out effect. " Half a syringeful of a spore-bearing cnkivation injected into 

 the dorsal subcntaneons tiseoe of each of two mice resnlted in the death of 

 one of them in 23 hours, while the other seemed unaffected. In the case of 

 the monae which died, the seat of injection and the neighbouring cellular 

 tissue was found to be very oedematous ; but no microscopic changes were 

 apparent in the internal organs. Numerous bacilli were found in the 

 the cedematous liquid, as also a number of spores which had sprouted ; and 

 there were likewise a few bacilli in the blood taken from the heart. This 

 was proved by cultivation as well as by microscopic examination. On 

 examining sections of various organs no morbid changes were found, and only 

 a few bacilli were seen in the blood vessels. A. syririgeful of the same cul- 

 ture was injected into a guinea pig; and the animal died 6 days later, with 

 extensive necrosis of the muscular tissue and skin ; and cheesy looking 

 patches were distributed through it, but there was no true pus. On making 

 sections of the necrosed tissue, numerous bacilli, apparently B. alvei, were 

 seen ; but there were al°o other bacilli and micrococci. No micro-organisms 

 were seen in the internal organs. It thus remains questionable whether 

 the necrosis was due to B. alvei or not, more especially as I have since 

 injected three guinea pigs snbcntaneously with spore bearing cultivation, but 

 without effect. 



" The effect of feeding flies with material containing spores results in 

 death of the flies, and bacilli were found in its juices as shewn by the micro- 

 scopic examination and cultivation. Cockroaches were not killed " (28). 



Fly blow larvae fed for three days on spores were not killed. With 

 regard to the prevalence of the disease amongst wild bees, very little can be 

 found on this subject in bee literature, but a correspondent of the British 

 Bee Journal (43) found the disease among wild bee larvae in a tree, recognis- 

 ing it by the smell from the entrance and also from the appearance of the 

 brood in the combs. The correspondent remarks that this tree had probably 

 in former years been the cause of a great deal of trouble to neighbouring bee 

 keepers. In all probability the disease is present among the various varieties 

 of wild bees and wasps. Knight (54) mentions an epedemic among wasps 

 in 1807 ; Kirby & Spence (55) another in 1815 ; and Bevan (13) one in 1824; 

 but in none of these cases was any positive evidence given to show the 

 epidemic was foul brood . 



Economic Aspects. 



Losses. Delia Rocca (loc. cit.) in 1790 stated that the whole of the bees 

 in the Island of Syra were carried away during 1777 to 1780 by the disease. 

 Dzierzon (46) relates his losses from the disease. In 1868 he lost his entire 

 apairy of 500 colonies from it. In Switzerland, the disease, at times, is 

 extremely bad. Bertrand's apiaries have suffered severely, and the German 

 papers make constant reference to its devastation. In England, Oowan'(4) 

 thinks that the "only visible hindrance to the rapid expansion of the bee 

 industry is the prevalence of this pestilential disease which is so rapidly spread- 

 ing over the country as to make bee-keeping a hazardous occupation "; and 

 again, (47) " So rapidly has foul brood spread by contagion that in one sea- 

 son, unless precautions are taken, a whole neighborhood may become seriously 

 infected, and the chances of successful beekeeping seriously imperilled, if not 

 utterly destroyed. miiq^jrr.- ..._ _^^bich.-v *-'—"'-«• 



The committee on the Beekeeping Industry and ' Foul" Brood in°"the 

 United Kingdom, report that the destruction of stock by foul brood and the 



