28 



the formula C 17 H 20 G has been assigned. Of these only penicillic 

 acid was föund io be toxic to higher animals. It could not be 

 extracted from the mycelium but only from the medium. It was 

 known before that different species differ in this respect. Sturli 

 (23) föund that an organism isolated from maize mush from Buko- 

 wina did not render the medium toxic while the mycelium was 

 very toxic. 



The authors point out further the very in teresting similarity in 

 empirical formulae and chemical behavior between penicillic acid 

 and the so called lichen acids. As is well known, certain lichen 

 acids have also been found to be toxic to various animals. Both 

 K obert (17) and Zopf (29) confirm this fact, and Stahl (22) has made 

 use of it in his well known protection theory. As to the nature of 

 the poisoning from penicillic acid the experiments conducted by 

 Alsberg and Black on mice, quinea pigs and frogs show that ty- 

 pical phenol poisonings resembling those the writer obtained on 

 rabbits resulted. In fact, the symptoms follow closely those of 

 phenol poisoning in man. At lirst the nervous system is stimulated 

 resulting in trembling and convulsions with rapid heartbeat and 

 high blood pressure. Then the nervous system is paralyzed result- 

 ing in low blood pressure and dead through suffocation if the dose 

 is fatal. 



It will have become clear from the above that bee-paralysis probably 

 is a phenol intoxication, as it exhibits every characteristic of such an 

 intoxication. The stimulating effect of the poison is responsible 

 for the agitaled and restless state of the bees. When at a laler 

 stage of the disease the nervous system is paralyzed voiding of the 

 excrements becomes just as impossible as flight. Consecfuently these 

 accumulate and distend the rectum and the whole abdomen. 



That bee-paralysis actually is some kind of poisoning has long 

 been suspected by practical bee-keepers, although the source of the 

 poison was a matter of conjecture with them as already stated. It 

 is, however, of much interest to read the remarks of Follenius (8) 

 on the disease, as they reveal the very essentials of the trouble in 

 very clear language. He says (pag. 93) : » Wie bei Menschen nach Ver- 

 giftung Krämpfe und Lähmungen auftreten, so lassen die Krankheits- 

 zeichen der Maikrankheit auch auf Vergiftung schliessen. Störungen 

 des Nervensystems, der Muskeltätigkeit und Lähmung der Atmungs- 

 organe sind die Folgen der Vergiftung und Ursachen der Flugun- 

 fähigheit. Eine Vergiftung liegt ferner zum Grunde, wenn der ganze 



