CHAPTER II. 

 LABORATORY EQUIPMENT. GENERAL TECHNIQUE. 



Although some of the tests of serum diagnosis are comparatively 

 simple and can be performed in one's office or even at the bedside, in 

 most instances a laboratory equipment is essential. This of course does 

 not at all imply the necessity of such elaborate apparatus as one is accus- 

 tomed to find in our present up-to-date bacteriological or serological 



FIG. i. A room in the laboratory of the Royal Institute of Berlin for the study of infectious 



diseases. 



laboratories where a great deal of complicated research work is done. 

 For the practical application of serum diagnosis, as employed at the hos- 

 pital or in private practice, an outfit much less costly is perfectly suffi- 

 cient. As regards the question of a room, the selection of one with two 

 windows, allowing the entrance of sufficient light, is indispensable. At 

 the same time, however, some arrangement should be made in connec- 

 tion with the windows in order that the direct rays of the sun be prevented 

 from striking one's desk. Strong sunlight may weaken or even destroy 



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