132 BACTERIOLOGY. 



THROAT CULTURES. 



Outfits for making throat cultures are supplied 

 by the Bureau of Health in most cities, and consist of 

 a sterile swab in a test-tube and a tube of culture 

 medium. The patient is placed in a good light, the 

 tongue held down by a tongue-depressor or spoon- 

 handle, and the swab rubbed over the inflamed part 

 of the throat. The material on the swab is then 

 rubbed directly over the surface of the culture medium. 

 After use the swab may be burned or replaced in the 

 tube and sent with the culture. 



Pus. 



When the amount of the pus is sufficient, it may 

 be collected directly into a sterile test-tube. If cultures 

 are made, the swab and culture tube of a throat-cul- 

 ture outfit may be used. The pus is collected on the 

 swab and then rubbed over the culture medium, just 

 as in making a throat culture. 



MILK AND WATER. 



Specimens should be collected in glass-stoppered 

 bottles, of 4- or 6- ounce capacity, which are sterile. 

 Specimens of milk should be well mixed before the 

 sample is taken. Specimens of both milk and water 

 must be kept cold and, if it is necessary to send them 

 any distance, they must be packed in ice. 



All kinds of specimens should be labeled with 



