COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS AND MATERIALS 19 



nodules, which have not yet opened to the surface. The dis- 

 charges from the nostrils, or from an open lesion, are much 

 less satisfactory, as very few bacilli may be present, and the 

 detection of these is difficult because of the invariable 

 admixture of numerous other microorganisms. Glycerin-agar 

 slants should be used. The procedure of making cultures 

 follows: 



(a) Select a fluctuating gland or nodule which has not yet 

 opened to the surface, shave the overlying skin, and sterilize 

 this area with a thick coating of tincture of iodin. 



(6) Incise the nodule with a sterile scalpel. 



(c) Evert the edges of the incision with thumb and middle 

 finger, introduce a sterile swab into the center of the lesion, 

 and, exercising care that it does not touch the skin edge of 

 the wound, rotate it gently so as to thoroughly impregnate 

 it with the contents of the lesion. 



(d) Remove the cotton plug from the culture tube, flame 

 the neck of the tube and smear the material on the swab over 

 the surface of the culture medium. 



(e) Carefully replace the cotton plug in the culture tube, 

 return the swab to the tube in which it was received and 

 forward both tubes to the laboratory. 



(/) The presence of B. mallei in material from open lesions, 

 nasal discharge and sputum (pulmonary lesions in man) can 

 be determined by guinea-pig inoculation (Straus reaction). 

 Collect discharge and forward in sealed container; if neces- 

 sary, add a small amount of saline to prevent drying. 



(g) The tubes or containers should be plainly labelled with 

 name (human case) or name or identification mark of animal, 

 the nature of the material, the examination requested, to- 

 gether with the name, rank and station of the veterinarian 

 to whom the reports of the examination are to be forwarded. 

 Requests, in duplicate, on Form 55U, M. D., must accompany 

 each culture. 



COMPLEMENT-FIXATION OR AGGLUTINATION TEST. A posi- 



2 



