138 Disease of Bees; [June, 



in the usual way known to bacteriologists, show large numbers 

 of bacteria. The latter take the form, for the most part, of 

 thick short rods, and are readily demonstrated by staining with 

 carbol-fuchsin. 



An examination of the blood has also been made ; samples of 

 blood were obtained (a) by removing a leg ; (b) by removing the 

 dorsal wall of the thorax. The blood preparations were stained 

 in some cases with Leishman's stain and in others with carbol- 

 fuchsin, but in no instance was any conclusive evidence of 

 bacteria obtained. 



The blood showed a great paucity of corpuscles and contained 

 large numbers of minute highly retractive ' 6 granules . ' ' They are 

 visible in all the films made and do not appear to stain. There 

 are none of the large fat globules present as figured by Cheshire 

 in the blood of healthy bees. 



The stored pollen from a diseased hive has also been examined 

 and smears made in the same way as in the case of the 

 blood. A few bacteria in the form of short rods were to be 

 detected. 



At the present time cultures are in progress and samples from 

 the contents of the colon, from the blood, and from stored 

 pollen have been taken. These have been incubated in broth 

 and plated in gelatine, and have been kept at room temperature 

 and at 37 0 C. No growth of any kind has resulted from the 

 blood, a very slight growth from the pollen, and a very mixed 

 growth of bacteria and a yeast (in small numbers) from the 

 colon. The bacteriological work cannot be fully reported on or 

 any conclusions drawn from it. If any conclusions are to be 

 drawn from it, it is necessary to infect healthy stock with the 

 germs that have been isolated. 



Possible Connection between the Present Disease and 

 " Dysentery." — Under normal conditions hybernation entails 

 very little wear and tear to the bees themselves, and consequently 

 tissue metabolism is comparatively small. The necessary 

 food under such conditions comprises but a small quantity of 

 pollen, which alone results in the accumulation of any solid 

 residue on the hind gut. If, however, through neglect or an 

 unusually severe or very damp winter, the inmates of a hive get 

 chilled, " dysenteric conditions " often supervene. The bees 

 attempt to counteract chilling by " flapping " their wings and 



