1654 



Journal of Applied Microscopy 



chased from a number of firms who make it a business to supply these tubes at 

 a very low price, so that the physician may have a half-dozen on hand, as they 

 will keep for a considerable length of time. This tube should be kept in a warm 

 place for twelve hours, and if no other place is available it may be carried in a 

 pocket in the underclothing next to the body, where it will be kept warm enough 

 for the bacteria to grow. After twelve hours the micro-preparation should be 

 made from the surface of the medium in the tube. Remove a portion of the growth 

 with the loop of the inoculator, spread this in a drop of water on a clean cover- 



FiG. III. Bacillus Diphtheria- (Culture). Stained Kir;. IV. Bacillus Diphtheria from an old culture 



witli Methyl Violet. Magnified 1800 diameters. Degenerative forms. Stained as above. Magnifica- 



Photomicrograph with 1-12 ' oil immersion objective tion 1 200 diameters Compensating Ocular No. 2. 

 Compensating Photo Ocular No. 2. 



glass held in Cornet forceps. Dry the tilm in the air and pass it three times 

 through the flame of an alcohol lamp or Bunsen burner. Stain with methyl 

 violet solution for about one minute, wash in water, dry between filter paper, and 

 mount film side d nvn in a drop of balsam on a clean slip. Loeffler's alkalin 

 methylen blue also gives well stained preparations. The form and appearance 

 of the bicteria will determine the diagnosis of the case should it be a typical one 

 of diphtheria. M iny cases of sore throat are due to streptococci. By this 

 method they will be stained. In cases of mixed infection, where both the bacil- 

 lus of diphtheria and streptococci are present, it is difficult to determine definitely 

 whether it is diphtheria or not, and a second tube culture may be necessary to 

 decide the question. 



PNEUMOCOCCUS, Croupous Pneumonia. 



Spread a thin film of the sputum on a clean cover-glass held in a Cornet 

 forceps. Fix to the cover by passing it rapidly three times through an alcohol 

 or Bunsen flame, apply a one per cent, aqueous solution of acetic acid one or 

 two minutes, drain off the surplus fluid, and without washing apply the following 

 stain, which should be freshly prepared : 



Anilin oil, saturated aqueous solution - - - 20 c. c. 



Absolute alcohol - - - - - - - 20 c. c. 



Saturated alcoholic solution of gentian violet - - 22 c. c. 

 Staining takes place rapidly. Wash the cover in water, dry between two pieces 

 of filter paper, and mount film down in a drop of balsam on a clean slip. 



By this method differential staining of the capsule and the diplococci takes 

 place. For ordinary diagnosis stain the prepared cover in a methylen blue. 

 Loefflar's, or in methyl violet solution, which will show the diplococci well. By 

 these methods the presence of the micro-organism may be demonstrated both in 

 the sputum and in the blood. William H, Kn.'XP. 



Harvey Medical College. 



