172 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July, 



methylene-blue solution, thus decolorizing and counter-staining 

 at the same time. This method was compared very carefully by 

 the author with those usually recommeiuded and found to give 

 equally as good results as the more lengthy processes. The 

 formulae for the solutions and the technique in their application 

 are as follows : 

 (i) The stain — 



JFuchsin, ..... I gram. 



Absolute alcohol, ... lo cubic centimeters. 



5 percent, carbolic acid, . . loo cubic centimeters. 



(2) The decolorizer and counter-stain — 



Methylene-blue, .... 2 grams. 



35 per cent, sulphuric acid, . . 100 cubic centimeters. 



For Cover-Glass Preparations. — After the smeared cover- 

 glasses have dried in the air, they are passed film upward three 

 times througli a flame, after which the him is covered with the 

 stain, which is allowed to act for about two minutes. The prep- 

 aration is then rinsed in water and stained for one minute with 

 the second solution, when it is again rinsed in water. It can be 

 examined at once or allowed to dry, when it can be permanently 

 mounted in balsam. For sections, it is necessary to allow the 

 reagents to act for a longer time. Better results may be obtained 

 by heating the staining fluid until steam is given off. This is 

 easily done by passing the preparation covered with the staining 

 fluid several times through a flame, or heating the solution in a 

 watch-glass upon which the cover floats film downward, or in 

 which the sections are immersed. 



The tubercle-bacilli will appear upon a microscopic examina- 

 tion (an oil immersion lens is desirable) as slender, more or less 

 curved, rod-shaped bodies of a deep-red color, while the sur- 

 rounding tissue and other bacteria present are stained a more or 

 less intense blue. There are occasionally small oval or round 

 bodies found in preparations of sputum that retain the fuchsin 

 stain and which beginners have frequently mistaken for tubercle- 

 bacilli. 



The solutions used in this method may be kept in stock for a 

 long time (two to three years), but better results are obtained 

 when moderately fresh solutions are employed ; a 10 per cent, 

 solution of sulphuric acid was found to be quite as good and con- 

 sidered preferable to the stronger one recommended in the 

 method. 



OBITUARY NOTICES. 



Caledonia, Vt., Medical College in 1S63, entered the army shortly 

 thereafter as a surgeon. He then, after this service, returned to 

 Sheboygan, Wis., wliere he practiced medicine until about fifteen 



