256 ABSTRACTS 



LABORATORY TECHNIQUE 



An Electrical Furnace for Sterilizing Inoculating Loops. H. J. Corper. 



Journ. A. M. A., 1916, 66, 187. 



The author describes the construction of an electrical furnace for 

 sterilizing platimun loops. — G. H. S. 



Two Laboratory Suggestio7is. Geo. B. Lake. Medical Record, 1916, 



89, 422-423. 



An eye shade for microscopical work is recommended. 



By the addition of a small quantity of acid or alkali, tone may be 

 restored to Wright's stain, which has deteriorated with age. — M. W. C. 



A Method of Obtaining Suspensions of Living Cells from the Fixed 

 ■^Tissues, and for the Plating Out of Individual Cells. Peyton Rous 

 and F. S. Jones. Proc. Soc. Biol, and Med., 1916, IS, 73. 

 Bits of tissue are cultivated in plasma and the growing cultures 



flooded with trypsin dissolved in Locke's solution. The fibrin network 



is dissolved and the spherical living cells released. These are washed 



and plated anew. — W. J. M. 



A Simple Method for Blood Cultures. Paul G. Weston. Jour. A. M. 



A., 1916, 66, 507. 



An ordinary vaccine ampule is half filled with culture medium. The 

 neck is drawn to a capillary tube. A vacuum is obtained in the ampule 

 and the capillary tube is sealed. A rubber tube, with needle for in- 

 sertion into the vein, is placed over the capillary tube. The appara- 

 tus is then sterilized. 



After puncture of the vein the capillary tube is broken. After the 

 collection of blood no sealing is necessary as a firm clot plugs the 

 needle. — G. H. S. 



A Stain for Tubercle Bacilli. Emanuel Klein. New York Med. 



Jour., 1916, 103, 217. 



The author suggests as a substitute for the usual carbol-fuchsin, acid 

 alcohol, methylene blue stain for tubercle bacilli, the following: 



(1) 3 per cent alcoholic solution of crystal violet. 



(2) 1 per cent aqueous solution of ammonium carbonate. 



(3) 10 per cent solution of nitric acid (C. P.). 



(4) 95 per cent alcohol. 



(5) Saturated alcoholic solution of Bismarck brown of which enough 

 is added to water to make a tincture of iodine color. 



(1) and (2) are mixed in proportion 1:3. This is placed upon smear, 

 which has been fixed in the usual manner, and allowed to steam and cool 

 three successive times. Excess stain is poured off, slide washed in tap 

 water. (3) and (4) are added alternately with rinsing after each, until 

 specimen is perfectly colorless. Without washing, (5) is added for three 

 minutes. Slide is dried and examined. The chief advantage of this 

 stain is the contrast obtained with tubercle bacilli stained violet upon a 

 light brown background. — M. W. C. 



