4 BULLETIN 780, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
taken up by Brotbeck (1857). Zander (1909) in his first paper re- 
ferred to Nosema infection as a (malignant) dysentery. Other discus- 
sions have appeared from time to time in regard to such relationship 
(Maassen and Xithack, 1910; Beuhne, 1911; Maassen, 1911). 
In fact the two disorders are very different and should be con- 
sidered, for the present at least, as having no direct relation to each 
other. As both conditions are widely distributed and occur most 
frequently in the spring of the year, it is to be expected that not 
infrequently both of them may be encountered together in the same 
colony. 
Efforts have been made to determine the name by which Nosema- 
disease has been known to beekeepers in the past. In these studies 
it was found (p. 16) that the highest percentage of Nosema-infected 
bees occurred in weak colonies. Consequently in asking beekeepers 
for samples bees from weak colonies were requested. In response 
to the request made approximately 150 samples were received. 
Fully half of these contained Nosema apis. Xine representative 
beekeepers located in different sections of the country that sent 
Xosema-infected bees were asked concerning the name by which the 
colonies showing the weakened condition were known. Three replied 
spring dwindling; two, not spring dwindling; two, weak colonies; one, 
bad queen; and one, ''Don't know." None suggested paralysis and 
none dysentery. 
In reply to requests for bees from colonies showing spring dwindling 
38 samples were received from 14 beekeepers located in different 
sections of the country. Out of the 38 samples 15 upon examination 
revealed the presence of Nosema apis. From these 15 samples 314 
bees were examined, of which 70 were found to be Xosema-infected. 
Samples have been received from five beekeepers who diagnosed 
the condition in the colonies from which the bees were taken as 
paralysis. Nosema apis was not found in any of them. 
The facts indicate, it would seem, that beekeepers had not learned 
to recognize the disease produced by Nosema apis by any one name. 
DIGESTIVE TRACT OF ADULT BEES. 
In Xosema infection the parasite Nosema apis enters, infects, and 
leaves the bee by way of the digestive tract. It is well, therefore, to 
know something of the location, arrangement, appearance, and 
structure of the organs of the alimentary canal of the healthy adult 
bee in order that the disease when encountered may be recognized 
and more fully understood. 
The following description is an abbreviation of a general survey of 
the alimentary tract by Snodgrass (1910). The part of the alimentary 
canal (fig. 1) immediately following the mouth forms an enlargement 
called the pharynx (Phy). Succeeding this is the oesophagus (CE), 
