82 HISTORICAL NOTES ON BEE DISEASES. 
larve. The “microorganism” named Spirochxte ams by Maassen 
(p. 72) was shown to be giant wii which have their origin in the 
growth of Bacillus larve. 
Puitiies, DECEMBER 31, 1907. 
In connection with the study of American foul brood it was noticed 
that the scales formed by the drying down of the dead larve are not 
destroyed if the comb becomes infested with either of the two wax 
moths. These observations were recorded in a publication? of this 
bureau. Sometimes it is desirable to have the dried scales of Amer- 
ican foul brood in large quantities. These can be easily obtained 
free from the comb by allowing a well dried and badly diseased 
sample to become infested with wax moths. 
MAASSEN, 1908. 
Another paper? by Maassen appeared in 1908. In his former puoli-- 
cations this author has dealt with only oneform of foul brood. In this 
paper, however, he states that two forms of the disease have been 
known for many years, a ‘‘mild’’ form and a ‘“‘virulent”’ one. 
Maassen’s description of the gross appearance of the brood affected 
with the ‘‘mild”’ form is similar to that given by Dzierzon (p. 18) and 
others. The disease therefore is quite probably European foul brood. 
This view is further strengthened by the bacteriological examinations 
which he reports. His description of the ‘‘virulent”’ form is also 
similar to that given by Dzierzon (p. 18) and others. The condition 
is most likely, therefore, American foul brood. 
Followimg the discussion of these two forms of ‘‘foul brood”’ Maassen 
discusses the etiology of ‘‘foul brood.” He expresses the belief that 
foul brood is a disease of the digestive apparatus of the larve and can 
be produced by various causes. As producers of ‘‘foul brood”’ 
Bacillus alvei, Streptococcus apis, and Bacillus brandenburgiensis are 
mentioned by him. Besides these three species he reports the pres- 
ence in the diseased brood of a species of yeast and spore-bearing 
bacilli. Bacillus alver and Streptococcus apis are reported to have been 
found in both forms of foul brood, while Bacillus brandenburgiensis was 
found in only one of them. 
In that form of the disease in which uncapped brood seemed mostly 
to be affected, Maassen reports the presence of Bacillus alvet in 51 
samples out of the 53 examined. When Bacillus alver predominated 
in the sample, he interpreted the odor as being more ‘‘sweat-like” in 
character than when Streptococcus apis was in predominance; and 
1 Phillips, E. F. December 31,1907. Waxmothsand American foul brood. U.S. Department of Agri- 
culture, Bureau of Entomology, Bulletin No. 75, Part Il. Pp. 19-22. 
2 Maassen, Dr. Albert, 1908. Zur Atiologie der sogenannten Faulbrut der Honigbienen. Arbeiten aus 
der kaiserlichen biologischen Anstalt fur Land- und Forstwirtschaft. Bd. VI, Heft I, pp. 53-70. 2 pls. 
