CHAPTER XIV. 



A BACTERIOLOGICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL LABORATORY FOR 



THE PHARMACIST. 



The pharmacist imbued with the proper appreciation of his responsibility 

 in the community should equip a laboratory in which to do the necessary 

 and desirable work in bacteriology and microscopy. The pharmacist, 

 more than any other professional man, has or should have the opportunity 

 to do laboratory work. The significance of bacteriology in pharmacy has 

 been sufficiently set forth in the pages of this book. The details of the 

 microscopical work proper belongs to the field of botany and pharmacognosy 

 and cannot be fully explained here. Every graduate from a reputable 

 college of pharmacy is or should be qualified to use the microscope in the 

 examination of vegetable drugs (crude and powdered), of compound powders, 

 dusting powders, insect powders, starches, meals, flours, including foods of 

 vegetable origin as baby foods, breakfast foods, etc. 



The following suggestions will no doubt be useful, though it is not in- 

 tended to imply that they must be carried out strictly. The laboratory space, 

 location, equipment, etc., can be made to suit individual requirements. 

 The microscopical work should preferably be done in a separate room, not 

 in the bacteriological laboratory, though this is not absolutely essential. 



A. Location of Laboratory. It may be in a separate building, as the 

 home, but as a rule a corner room in the pharmacy is best suited for the 

 purpose. This room may be in the basement, or on the first, second or other 

 floor. Do not select a room with a through passage for obvious reasons. 

 It may adjoin a chemical or pharmaceutical laboratory, though it should not 

 be a part of such laboratories. Chemicals and chemical fumes interfere 

 with bacteriological and microscopical work. It should have one door and 

 two or more windows. There must be good light and the environment 

 should be favorable for bacteriological work, for which reason a room in the 

 basement is not, as a rule, desirable. 



The walls and ceiling of this room should be absolutely plain and well 

 protected with white enamel paint. The floor may be cement, slate, or hard 

 wood well oiled with boiled linseed oil, or it may be painted, or covered 

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