1897J MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL 21)9 



have been reported in which similar errors have occurred. 

 Grethe has found that reliable results are obtained by 

 staining with a concentrated alcoholic methylene blue. 

 This stains the smeg-ma bacillus well; a^d if the prepara- 

 tion be first stained in the ordinary manner with carbol 

 fuchsin, the tubercle bacillus, if present, is easily identi- 

 fied by its red color contrasting- with the blue of the rest 

 of the preparation, including- the smeg-ma bacillus. 



MEDICAL MICROSCOPY. 



The Recognition of Diabetis by Examination of the 

 Blood. — Bremer shows, in the Journal der Pharmacie von 

 Elsass-Lothring-en, how it may be effected by the aid of the 

 microscope, in demonstrating the g-rape sug-ar reaction in 

 that vital fluid. He says: 



Mix equal volumes of saturated solutions of eosin and 

 methylene blue and pour the mixture on a filter as soon as 

 the precipitate ceases to fall. Collect the precipitate 

 after washing- on the filter, dry it carefully, and pulverize 

 it very finely. To this powder add 24 parts of eosin and U 

 parts of methylene blue, also in fine powder. This will 

 make a redish-brown powder. 



The blood to be examined is spread in a very thin laver 

 over a cover-glass, another cover being- smeared with a 

 drop from some person known to be healthy, the latter 

 serving for purposes of comparison. 



After drying, put the two cover-glasses simultaneously 

 in a mixture of alcohol and ether in equal parts, ])ut over 

 the waterbath and let boil for four minutes. Remove and 

 put in a solution made by dissolving from 25 mgm. to 3 

 cgm. of the mixed powder described above in 10 gm. of 

 33 per cent alcohol (alcohol 1 part, distilled water 2 parts). 

 This solution, we should remark, should be freshlv pre- 

 pared on each occasion that it is re(iuired. 



Leave the cover in the stain for about four minutes, 

 remove, rinse with water, and examine under the micro- 

 scope. If diabetes be present in the person whose blood 

 is undei- examination the latter will be colored a blue- 



