46 MEETING OF INSPECTORS OF APIARIES. 



streaked with a light inoculation most beautiful forms occur. The growth of 

 the bacilli spreads over the surface and branches repeatedly, giving the 

 appearance of seaweed. This appearance is distinctly characteristic: and as 

 the growth is very rapid, this method commends itself for making a quick 

 diagnosis of the presence of the bacillus in larva? supposed to be diseased. 



Potato cultures. — On potatoes the growth differs considerably, according to 

 the reaction and age of the potato. Sometimes a browuish wrinkled growth 

 forms, which gives off a peculiar odor; at other times a dryish yellow layer 

 appears. "The bacilli grow very slowly indeed at 20° C." (Cheyne, Journal of 

 the Royal .Microscopical Society. 1885, p. 381). Even at 37° ('. they grow 

 slowly. 



Milk. — In milk at 37° C. coagulation of the casein occurs in three days. The 

 milk becomes yellowish and gives off a characteristic odor. After several 

 weeks' growth the curd is digested and a whey-like fluid remains. 



Blood scrum. — On hlood serum at 37° C. the growth is rather slow and 

 polymorphic forms are common. "Very long filaments are formed" (Cheshire 

 and W. Cheyne. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society. 1885, p. 381 >. 

 These long forms may be from five to ten times as long as the average bacillus 

 growing on gelatine, and consists of single cells. The filaments are often wavy 

 or twisted and of unequal thickness. The extremities of the long, bent rods 

 arc often clubbed; and Ydike forms are numerous. Spores are formed very 

 sparingly, and the blood serum is liquefied. 



Synthetic media {TJschinsky). — In Uschinsky's medium no growth occurs; 

 but if the medium-is neutralized, good growth ensues. The bacilli occur in 

 threads and a pellicle is formed. 



Dunham's solution. — The bacilli are small when grown in this solution. No 

 threads form, but there is a slight indol reaction after nine days' growth. 



Relation to free oxygen. — Cheyne states that the germs grow most rapidly 

 on the surface of agar and arrange themselves side by side : and they produce 

 spores in this position after a few days' growth. Eisenberg (Bakteriologische 

 Diagnostik, Hamburg. 1801. p. 29S) says nothing under the head of aerobiosis. 

 Howard (Foul Brood: Its Natural History and Rational Treatment. Chicago, 

 1894) writes that. "It grows best under anaerobic conditions: is a facultative 

 aerobe; grows under the mica plate, and in the presence of oxygen the growth 

 is slight and slow." Howard also states that under anaerobic conditions it 

 emits a foul odor resembling that of foul brood. It will he thus seen that 

 Cheyne and Howard do not agree on this point. The former author also says 

 that the characteristic odor is given off under aerobic conditions, whilst Howard 

 states that this smell is emitted under anaerobic conditions. Further. Cheyne 

 states that the bacilli grow with great rapidity on the surface of agar, whereas 

 Howard obtains his best growth under the mica plate, which does not give 

 complete anaerobiosis. Howard's conclusions are thus at variance with 

 Cheyne's, and my own results fully corroborate those of the latter author. 



Howard states that the vitality of the spores of B. alr<i is destroyed when 

 exposed to atmospheric air from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. In making 

 his experiments he took sterilized road dust and mixed it with the dry foul 

 brood masses from several cells, which were previously dissolved in distilled 

 water. The mixture was worked dry ami spread on sheets of paper, and trial 

 cultures were made immediately and at intervals of every twelve hours for 

 three days; and. according to his results, no growth occurred after thirty-six 

 hours. In giving these results. Howard docs qo1 state whether he exposed the 

 spores to sunlight or diffused light: nor does he mention the age of the dry foul- 

 brood masses, which he used from several cells. These are points of considerable 



