232 BACTERIOLOGY. 



after closer study may be subsequently inserted in the 

 protocol. 



The cover-slips are now to be stained, mounted, and 

 examined microscopically, and the results carefully 

 noted. 



The same may be said for the subsequent study of 

 the cultures and the hardened tissues which are to be 

 stained and subjected to microscopic examination. The 

 results of microscopic study of the cover-slip prepara- 

 tions and of those obtained by cultures should in most 

 cases correspond, though it not rarely occurs that bac- 

 teria are present in such small numbers in the tissues 

 that their presence may be overlooked microscopically, 

 and still they may appear in the cultures. 



If the autopsy has been performed in the proper way, 

 under the precautions given, and sufficiently soon after 

 death, the results of the bacteriological examination 

 should be either negative or the organisms which ap- 

 pear should be in pure cultures. 



This is particularly the case with cultures made from 

 the internal viscera. 



Both the cover-slips and cultures made from the point 

 of inoculation are apt to contain a variety of organisms. 



If the organism obtained in pure culture from the 

 internal viscera, or those predominating at the point of 

 inoculation of the animal, have caused its death, then 

 subsequent inoculation of pure cultures of this organism 

 into the tissues of a second animal should produce sim- 

 ilar results. 



When the autopsy is quite finished the remainder of 

 the animal should be burned ; all instruments subjected 

 to either sterilization by steam or boiling for fifteen min- 

 utes in a 1 to 2 per cent, soda solution, and the board 



