l-i72 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



ing the brush and attaching in its place a rubber tube, which is allowed to dip 

 into some salt solution. Then by applying suction at the upper end of the main 

 tube A, the whole electrode may be filled. When desired for use, the cap 

 bearing the brush may be filled with the salt solution and slipped over the 

 end of the tube B, care being taken not to allow the entrance of any air bubbles. 

 When not in use the end of the tube B is corked, thus preventing any evapora- 

 tion of the solution. The author says : " Once in order, the electrodes are 

 always ready for use and are very constant." r. p. 



CURRENT BACTERIOLOGICAL LITERATURE. 



H. W. Conn. 



Separates of papers and books on bacteriology should be sent for review to 

 H. W. Conn, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. 



Schultz. Ueber die Lebensdauer von Bacillus Schultz has had an opportunity of 

 pestis iiominis in Reinkulturen. Cent. f. . . . , . t -n 



Bac. u. Par. IT 27: 12 iqoi. mvestigatmg cultures of pest bacillus, 



which are four years of age. He finds 

 that these cultures are still filled with active bacteria, and are virulent. The 

 question as to the condition assumed by the bacteria in these cultures has been 

 carefully studied, with the following conclusions : The pest bacillus does not 

 produce endogenous spores. Its resisting power, lasting for four years, appeared 

 to be due to a condensation of the protoplasm of the bacteria rods, which serve 

 the same purpose as spores. These shriveled bacilli are capable of resisting ad- 

 verse conditions. H. w. c. 



Hinterberger. Eine Modifikation des Geis- This article gives a convenient and 

 selfarbungsverfahrens nach Ermengen. ,1 i-,- • r 1 1 1 r 



Centf.Bak.und Par. 11,27: 597, 1901. • "seful modification of the method of 



staining flagella. The method is too 



detailed to be given here, and the original article must be referred to by those 



wishing to adopt it. h. w. c. 



Muller. Uber Tuberkelbacillen, und Sporen- ^he author gives an improvement of 

 farbung unter Anwendung von Kalium per- the method of Staining tubercle bacilli, 

 karbonat und Wasserstoffsupero.xyd. Cent. 1 • 1 1 ^, • , • r 1 



f. Bac. u. Par. I 29: 701, iqoi. which he thinks is far more sure to de- 



tect the presence of these organisms 

 than the one commonly in use. It consists in the use of calcium percarbonate, 

 or hydrogen peroxyde, as a decolorizing medium, in the place of acid. The 

 method of use is simple. The material containing the bacilli is fixed upon a 

 cover-glass in the ordinary way, and stained as usual in carbol-fuchsin. The sur- 

 plus stain is washed ofi with 60 to 70 per cent, alcohol, and then with water. 

 Afterward, the preparation is placed in a 5 to 10 per cent, solution of calcium per- 

 carbonate. This decolorizes the preparation, a quarter of an hour being re- 

 quired for the purpose. After this a counterstain with methyl blue follows. In 

 the use of hydrogen peroxyde, essentially the same method is followed, hydrogen 

 peroxyde being used for decolorizing instead of calcium percarbonate. The 



