and Laboratory Methods. 1395 



. MEDICAL NOTES. 



METHODS FOR STAINING TUBERCLE BACILLI. 



Ehrlich-Weigert Anilin-Methyl-Violet Method. — Place a dried 

 cover-glass preparation, film down, in the following soliation, and heat gently 

 until steam rises, then allow to stand for 2 to 5 minutes : 



Methyl violet, sat. ale. sol., ... 1.1 part. 



Alcohol, absol., ...... 1. part. 



Anilin water, . . . . . .10. parts. 



Anilin water is made by using 1 part anilin oil with 20 parts of distilled 

 water, and after standing a short time and becoming thoroughly saturated, filter- 

 ing the mixture. Decolorize for a few seconds in 1 part nitric acid and 3 parts 

 water. Wash one or two seconds in 60 per cent, alcohol, then in water. If it 

 is desired to counterstain the specimen, allow a few drops of saturated aqueous 

 solution of vesuvin to cover the specimen for about five minutes. When the 

 staining is complete the preparation is washed, dried, and mounted in balsam. 

 Gabbett's Method. — This method is simple and rapid, and is considered 

 by many to be a most excellent method for routine work. The cover-glass pre- 

 paration is stained for 2 to 5 minutes in Ziehl's carbol fuchsin solution, after the 

 formula : 



Fuchsin, ....... 1 part. 



Alcohol, ....... 10 parts. 



Carbolic acid (5 per cent, sol.), . . . 100 parts. 



The fuchsin should be dissolved in the alcohol before the acid is added. 

 After this solution is allowed to act for the desired length of time, the prepara- 

 tion is placed for 1 to 2 minutes in Babbett's methylen-blue sulphuric acid solu- 

 tion, consisting of : 



Methylen blue, ...... 1 part. 



Sulphuric acid (25 per cent, sol.), . . 50 parts. 



The specimen is then washed in water, dried, and mounted in balsam. 

 Tubercle bacilli are stained red, while other elements of the mount are blue. 



Ziehl-Neelson Method. — By this method tubercle bacilli are stained with 

 the following solution : 



Fuchsin, 1 part, dissolved in 10 parts alcohol, to which is added lOO parts 

 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid. The cover-glass preparation is floated, film 

 down, on the solution, to which gentle heat is applied until steam rises. The 

 specimen is then washed in water, and decolorized in 25 per cent, nitric or sul- 

 phuric acid, then in 60 per cent, alcohol for a very short time, after which, with 

 thorough washing in water, it is mounted in balsam. c. w. j. 



NEWS AND NOTES. 



The New Haven Microscopical Society has just issued a very neat booklet 

 containing the constitution and by-laws of the society, as well as a list of the 

 members with the address of each. The officers of the society are : President, 

 Robert Brown, Observatory place. New Haven ; Secretary and Treasurer, J. F. 

 Malone, 25 Wooster place, New Haven. 



