MYXOMYCETES AND SCHIZOPHYTES 203 



better leave dangerous bacteria alone. Try Bacterium termo with the 

 following solution : 



Ferric chloride, aqueous (1 part ferric chloride to 



20 parts water) 25 c.c. 



Alum, saturated aqueous solution 75 c.c. 



Shake and add a saturated aqueous solution of 



basic fuchsin 10 c.c. 



Filter and allow it to stand for some time; then stain for 5 minutes, 

 gently warming but not to the boiling point. Rinse in water and stain 

 lightly in carbol fuchsin. If the ciha are not stained, repeat the process. 

 Mount in balsam. 



Here is another method. After drying the smear, treat with a 10 per 

 cent aqueous solution of tannin for 2 minutes. Wash in water, 10 sec- 

 onds. Put a few drops of acid fuchsin on the smear and heat until bub- 

 bles begin to appear. Let it cool, wash in water, 1 minute; then to 95 

 per cent alcohol, 20 seconds; absolute alcohol, 5 seconds; xylol. Mount 

 in balsam. The cilia should be red. 



The following method is much better if the bacteria are vigorous and 

 the haematoxylin is at its best: make smears from the hay infusion, 

 invert over fumes of 1 per cent osmic acid, 10 seconds; dry in a warm, 

 dry room; heat gently; 10 per cent aqueous solution of tannin, 10 sec- 

 onds; water, 10 seconds; iron-alum 4 per cent, 4 hours; water, 1 min- 

 ute; i per cent haematoxylin, overnight; water, 5 minutes; 1 per cent 

 iron-alum, until stain is right; water, 2 minutes; 30, 50, 70, 85, 95, and 

 100 per cent alcohol; xylol. Mount in balsam. The ciUa should be 

 black. 



Still another method : After drying the smear, treating with tannin, 

 and rinsing slightly with water, put on a few drops of acid fuchsin and 

 heat until bubbles appear. Cool off; wash in water, 1 minute; 95 per 

 cent alcohol, 20 seconds; 100 per cent, 5 seconds; xylol. Mount in 

 balsam. 



Fine preparations may be obtained by inoculating a mouse with 

 Anthrax, and then cutting paraffin sections of favorable organs. For 

 making mounts of a dangerous form like Anthrax, secure properly 

 fixed material from a bacteriologist. Let him cut the liver and spleen 

 (and any other parts) into small pieces, about 5 mm. square and 2 or 

 3 mm. thick, and put them into the chromo-acetic-osmic solution 

 (0.7 g. chromic acid, 3 c.c. glacial acetic acid, 7 c.c. 1 per cent osmic 



