322 THE AMERICAN 3I0NTHLY [Nov., 



which causes the drop of water to spread evenly on the surface. 

 Take a recent culture and touch it with the end of the ordinary 

 platinum needle, and gently pass it through the drop of water 

 a few times, back and forth, without using any force. Keep the 

 slip in a thermostat, at the temperature of from 35° to 38° C. 

 until the water is entirely evaporated. Pass the slide through 

 the flame three times, and place in five per cent solution of chro- 

 mic acid for two minutes; wash in water, then place for three 

 minutes in the following solution : 



Fuchsin, 3J grams. 



Absolute alcohol, 35 c. c. 



Phenol, 13 gram. 



Distilled water, 230 c. c. 



Wash off the superfluous stain in water, and immerse it for 

 half a minute in five per cent solution of sulphuric acid. Wash 

 in water, then place it in saturated aqueous solution of methy- 

 lene blue (Loffler's solution), for two minutes; wash again in 

 water, dry and mount. The body of the bacteria will stain 

 blue, while the spore will take a brilliant red. 



Dissolve the fuchsin in absolute alcohol, and mix phenol in 

 distilled water, then mix the two together, and stir frequently. 

 Let it stand for twenty-four hours, then filter ; keep in a tightly 

 corked bottle. Filter again just before using. 



A New Method of Staining Spores. — Fiocca (Central- 

 blatt fur Bakteria, July 1st, 1893) describes the following me- 

 thod for staining spores, which he states is superior to all others 

 as regards rapidity, simplicity, and certainty. The materials 

 needed are ammonia solution 10 i:)er cent, an alcoholic solution 

 of an aniline dye, a decolorising solution of sulphuric or nit- 

 ric acid 20 per cent, and an aqueous solution of a constant stain. 

 Place 20 c.cm. of the ammonia in a porcelain capsule, add ten to 

 twenty drops of the solution of aniline dye, warm to steaming, 

 and place the cover slip — prepared as usual — on the stain. If 

 desired, the contrast stain may be dissolved in the acid, as in 

 Gabbett's method for tubercle bacilli. In this case the acid is 

 used in ths proportion of 10 per cent, only, and the cover slips 

 remain in it two or three minutes. For staining the spores 

 gentian violet, fuchsin, methylene blue, or safranin are suitable. 

 The contrast stain will vary in different cases. By this method 

 not only spores but the granular protoplasmic structures which 



