186 Medical Bacteriology. 



4. In important cases (as in man) guinea pigs, or white mice, should be inoculated, 

 and in case of death organism isolated and identified. 



SPIRILLUM OBERMEIERI. This organism is found in the blood only during a par- 

 oxysm. It is a long slender orgaiiism 6 or 7 times the diameter of a red blood corpuscle. 

 (45/J-) They have a brisk vibratile movement in the direction of their long axis. They 

 are very sensitive to reagents of all kinds. Even the addition of distilled water will cause 

 them to disappear. Fresh blood is best, but dried smears may be used and stained 

 with fuchsiu or by Gunther's method: 



a. Dried films are treated with acetic acid (5%) 10 seconds, this is removed by 

 blowing and holding film over flask of strong ammonia previously shaken. 



b. Stained in Ehrlich's gentian violet. 



c. Washed with water. 



d. Dried. 



e. Mounted in balsam or xylene. 

 /. Examined. 



PYOGENIC MICROCOCCI. These are occasionally found and for method of detection 

 see CX. 



BACTERIUM MALLEI. Sometimes found in the blood of those suffering with Gland- 

 ers. It may be detected in the blood-smears. For special methods see CX. 



B. PNEUMONIAE. This germ is frequently present in fatal cases 24 to 48 hours be- 

 fore death. The blood should be drawn with a sterile hypodermic syringe and about 

 1 cc. of blood mixed with a tube of melted a gar at 43C. and poured into a Petri dish. 

 Characteristic colonies appear in 24 to 48 hours. 



B. TUBERCULOSIS. In case of miliary tuberculosis they may be very rarely found in 

 sufficient numbers to be detected by staining methods, see sputum CVII. 



B. INFLUENZAE. Canon claims to have stained and cultivated this organism in blood, 

 but this needs confirmation. 



B. COLI. This organism may be found in the blood, for methods of isolation and 

 identification see Faeces CIX. 



BACILLUS PESTIS. This germ occurs in the blood in certain cases at least but ap- 

 pears to require considerable skill in detecting it due to its variable appearance. Broth 

 tubes should be infected and animals inoculated. 



BACILLUS SUIPESTIFER. 



a. Make agar plate and streak cultures from spleen of dead animal, and work up 

 the colonies as they appear. 



b. Widal Reaction (for technique see below under B. typhosus). 

 PLASMODIUM MALARIAE. 



a. Examination of fresh blood. A droplet of blood from finger or lobe of ear is 

 placed on a glass slide, covered with a cover- glass and then the cover-glass is ringed with 

 vaselin. Examination should be made with a yV in- oil immersion. 



b. Stained. Prepare films as directed above and stain with methylen blue and 

 eosin or treat films with a very weak acetic acid 2 or 3 drops to 30 cc. of water; to 

 remove haemoglobin wash with water and stain with following solution for ^ minute : 

 Borax 5.0 parts. 

 Methylen blue 0.5 parts. 

 Water 100.0 parts. 



Wash, dry and mount in balsam (Manson). 



