THE MICROSCOPB:. i6r 



HOW TO PRESERVE URINARY DEPOSITS. 



KV C. H. STOWEM., M. 1). 

 (from part I, MICROSCOPICAL DIAGNOSIS.) 



URINARY deposits may be preserved in Canada balsam, in 

 glycerine, in a one per cent, solution of carbolic acid, in equal 

 parts of glycerine and camphor water, in a solution of naphtha and 

 creasote, and in various other media. 



The naphtha and creasote solution is of very general use. It is 

 made as follows: 



Creasote, _ . . . . 3 drachms. 



Naphtha, ------ 6 ounces. 



Distilled water, - - - - 64 ounces. 



Prepared chalk, - - - - a sufficient quantity. 



Mix the naphtha and creasote together, then add as much of 

 the chalk as may be necessary to make a thin, pulpy mass; the water 

 is now added gradually, the whole being well rubbed together in a 

 mortar. One or two small pieces of camphor are added and the 

 whole mixture is allowed to stand two or three weeks in a closely 

 covered vessel, being frequently stirred. At the expiration of this 

 time the clear fluid is poured off, and filtered if necessary, and pre- 

 served in well corked bottles. 



When any urinary deposit is to be mounted in a fluid the 

 following method should be carried out. The sediment is al- 

 lowed to settle in the test-tube, when as much as possible of 

 the urine is drawn off from it by a syphon. A quantity of the 

 preservative medium, equal in bulk to the contents of the tube, 

 is added to the sediment and the mixture well shaken ; this 

 is allowed to rest until the sediment settles to the bottom of 

 the tube again. The preservative fluid is now drawn off, as 

 was the urine, and a fresh quantity of the fluid added. By so 

 doing the deposit is thoroughly impregnated with the preservative 

 medium. 



Casts are preserved very well in the naphtha and creasote solu- 

 tion. The very pale casts show much better by coloring them with 

 the carmine solution. 



Phosphate of lime is preserved in the naphtha and creasote 

 fluid. The crystals of the triple phosphate are preserved the best 



