822 Disease of Bees in the Isle of WiCxHT. [feb., 



its relationship to the disease. By their morphology alone, 

 few pathogenic bacteria can be recognised, since morpho- 

 logically indistinguishable, but non-pathogenic, organisms 

 are frequently encountered. Consequently, until some satis- 

 factory cultivation methods have been discovered, the bac- 

 teriological diagnosis of this organism must in most cases 

 remain in doubt, for organisms simulating it in morphology 

 probably exist. 



The Pathological Course of the Disease and Mode of 

 Infection. — If my observations are correct, the disease must 

 be regarded as an infectious one which primarily affects the 

 chyle stomach. Here the specific organism multiplies and 

 brings about a destruction of the lining epithelium. Judging 

 from the condition of many of the pollen grains found in 

 the colon, this apparently results' in the food passing 

 undigested through the chyle stomach. Hither for this 

 reason or because the constitutional effects of the disease 

 prevent the bees from flying and voiding their excrement, 

 the colon becomes greatly distended in the last stage of the 

 disease. The actual cause of death is uncertain, but it is 

 probably brought about by malnutrition, possibly combined 

 with the absorption of a specific poison and of the products of 

 decomposition in the colon, and probably aided to some 

 extent by imperfect oxygenation of the tissues, owing to the 

 pressure exerted by the distended colon on the abdominal 

 air-sacs. 



In regard to the mode of infection and dissemination very 

 few definite statements can be made. There is some evidence 

 to show that foragers, and more particularly robbers of 

 infected hives are the first to be attacked, and communicate 

 the disease to other members of the hive. The organism 

 probably enters by the mouth, and infection may be spread 

 by means of the contents of the honey stomach, or in the later 

 stages by the infected excrement. Whatever the precise 

 means may be by which infection is carried, the adult bees 

 are alone affected, and there is satisfactory evidence to show 

 that after a short period of time neither the combs nor the 

 honey are infective. 



Treatment and Prevention. — From the nature of the disease 

 it seemed scarcely likely that its progress would be arrested 



