Journal of Applied Microscopy. 519 



Pfannenstiel, J. Noch ein Wort zur Discussion Thilo, 0. Die Entstehung der Luftsacke bei 



ueber die Syncytiumfrage. Centralbl. f. den Kugelfischen. Anat. Anz. 16: 73-87, 



Gynakel. No. 48, 1314-1319, 1898. i pi., 1899. 



Bauer. Ueber das Verhaltniss von Eiweis zu Needham, J. G. The Digestive Epithelium'of 



Dotter und Schaale in den Vogeleiern. Dragonfly Nymphs. Zool. Bull. 1 : 103- 



Biol. Centralbl. 19: 320, 1899. 1 13, 10 figs., 1899. 



CURRENT BACTERIOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



H. H. Waite, 

 University of Michigan. 



Separates of papers and books on bacteriology shonld be sent for review 



to H. H. Waite, 709 North University avenue, 



Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



For staining, a water solution of car- 

 Marzinowsky, E.J. Ueber eine neue Methode , ,. r , • , ..) . . 



der Diff erentialfarbung der Microoganismen '^OllC tucnsin was usea {^ parts water, 

 der menschlichen und Vogeltuberculose, 1 part carbolic fuchsin) and Loffler's 

 Lepra und Smegma. Centrlbl. f. Bakt. ^11 11 t^u 4.- 



25* 762-764 1809 methylen blue. The preparations were 



stained in the water solution of car- 

 bolic fuchsin for from 3 to 5 minutes. (The author does not state as to whether 

 heat was used.) After carefully washing in water the preparations were next 

 stained for 2 to 3 minutes with Loffler's methylen blue. After these manipulations 

 all the preparations were stained an intense blue. This intense and permanent 

 staining is probably due to the fact that the water solution of carbolic fuchsin 

 acts as a mordant for the subsequent staining with methylen blue. 



The Bacillus tuberculosis hominis could not, in spite of the intense staining 

 of the sputum streaks, be stained by this method. Moreover, the tubercle bacilli 

 in sections from tuberculous organs were not stained by this method. The Bacil- 

 lus tuberculosis avium is stained tolerably easily in this way. The sections were 

 stained with the water solution of carbolic fuchsin from 6 to 8 minutes, and after 

 careful washing in water were placed in Loffler's methylen blue for 5 minutes. 

 The sections were further treated in the ordinary way — alcohol, oil of berga- 

 mot, xylol, balsam. The tubercle bacilli (aviary) were stained red, all other 

 bacteria and the nuclei of the cells of the tissue were stained blue ; protracted 

 exposure of the sections to alcohol did not lead to their decolorization. If the 

 sections were left still longer in the methylen blue, the bacteria were stained a 

 lighter tint and were changed from a red to a light rose. 



The Bacillus leprae was very easily stained by this method (2 to 3 minutes in 

 the water solution of carbolic fuchsin and li to 2 minutes in methylen blue). The 

 rods appear red and granular. Alcohol decolorizes them tolerably quickly and 

 they were decolorized still more readily with alcohol after exposure to methylen 

 blue for a longer period (10 minutes). 



The Bacillus smegmae also stains red. The preparations were stained in the 

 water solution of c arbolic fuchsin for from 4 to 5 minutes, with Loffler's methylen 

 blue 2 to 3 mini tes. 



If the prep.iraiions were left in rnetii_»kn blue for a longer time (10 to 15 min- 

 utes) the smegma bacilli tjol: 0:1 a \ iokt color, and on lunger treatment grad- 



