SCHIRACH, 1771. 13 
Paralysis.—But little is definitely known about paralysis of bees. 
The disease has not been demonstrated to be infectious. Many sup- 
positions have been made by different writers as to the cause of the 
trouble, but no satisfactory evidence has been produced to prove the 
cause. 
Dysentery—A condition known as dysentery has often been 
observed by the bee keeper. But little is known about the disorder. 
There is considerable evidence that the nature of the winter food 
plays a part in its causation. Zander (p. 89) has recently suggested 
that there are two forms of this affection, a noninfectious one and 
an infectious one. To an infectious form he ascribes Nosema apis 
as a cause. Much work must yet be done upon this condition. 
Isle of Wight disease—The disorder known as Isle of Wight dis- 
ease was first reported from the Isle of Wight by Imms (p. 79). 
Malden (p. 93) reports that the disease has more recently spread to 
the mainland (England). This disorder has so far not been found 
in any other country. The cause has not been definitely established. 
It is urged that the reader peruse the preface to this bulletin 
(pp. 7-9) carefully. By so doing the intent of the writers of this bul- 
letin will be better understood and the chances of misinterpretation 
will be lessened. 
CONSIDERATION OF PAPERS ON THE CAUSES OF BEE DISEASES. 
SCHIRACH, 1771. 
Schirach! in 1771 classified the diseases which most frequently 
attack bees as follows: (1) Dysentery; (2) disease of the antenne; 
(3) foul brood; (4) queens laying drone eggs only; (4) sterile queen; 
(6) queenless colonies. 
Dysentery he considered to be dietary in origin. No belief is 
expressed as to the cause of the disease of the antenne, to which 
he refers, but he states that with this disease the danger is not great. 
The disease which he designates as foul brood, however, he believed 
to be quite dangerous, very fatal, and a true pest after it has reached. 
a certain stage. To this condition he attributed two causes, one 
cause being ascribed to the improper food which was consumed by 
the larve, and the other being a fault of the queen in permitting 
the brood to be so arranged in the cells that the heads point inward. 
Considering these two widely different causes ascribed to an abnor- 
mality in the brood, one might suspect that there was more than 
one disease in the condition which he designated as foul brood. 
That part of the disease condition, to which as a cause he ascribed 
the food, could well be an infectious disease—either American foul 

1Schirach, A. G., 1771. Histoire naturelle de la reine des abeilles, avec l’art de former des essaims. 
LaHaye. Pp. Lxm+269; 3 plates, 
