572 



Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



Smith, Theobald. Some Devices for the Culti- 

 vation of Anaerobic Bacteria witiiout the 

 Use of Inert Gases. Jour. Bost. See. Med. 

 Sc. 3: 340-343. 1899. 



The development of anaerobes in 

 fermentation tubes suggested their 

 cultivation in culture flasks. The 

 apparatus described (Fig. 1) is sim- 

 ple and easily manipulated, and was used more particularly for the cultiva- 

 tion on a large scale of the tetanus bacillus for the production of a tetanus anti- 

 toxine. The method proved more satisfactory than the removal of air by 

 aspiration, with the substitution of hydrogen. 



There are two bulbs, A and B, connected by a heavy rubber tube, c, and with a 

 clamp, D, to regulate the communication between them. The bouillon ordinarily 

 fills A and the space below the dotted line in B, but during sterilization it is 

 forced over into B. It is inoculated through the cotton-plugged opening E. The 

 growth will extend around to A within twenty-four hours. A may be made with 



Fig. I. 



Fig. 2. 



an opening at the top for convenience in filling and cleaning, but in that case 

 it must have a rubber stopper wired down to exclude the air. The tin rack F is 

 convenient for holding the apparatus. 



Fig. 2 shows a variation of the apparatus, in which a liter flask, A, and a bent 

 lOOcc. pipette, B, are used. The upper part of the pipette is shortened and 

 plugged with cotton, while the lower part is bent and fitted to the flask with a 

 rubber stopper. The bouillon is inoculated through the opening at D, and the 

 growth reaches the flask in twenty-four to thirty-six hours. The second form can- 

 not be autoclaved when filled, as some of the fluid will be thrown out. To 

 obviate this, the flask is only partly filled and the extra bouillon required is auto- 

 claved with it in an ordinary flask. There is no difficulty if the Arnold sterilizer 

 is used. E. M. Brace. 



Darling, E. A. Observations on the Sterilization of Catgut. 

 269-273, 1899. 



Jour. Bost. Soc. Med. Sc 3; 



