XVI. METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION 

 AND STUDY. 



IN order to identify an organism after isolation, 

 tube, plate, and other cultivations must be prepared, 

 incubated under suitable conditions as to temperature 

 and environment, and examined from time to time 

 (a) macroscopically, (b) by microscopical methods, (c) 

 by chemical methods, (d) by physical methods, (e) 

 by inoculation methods, and the results of these exami- 

 nations duly recorded. 



It must be stated definitely that no micro-organism 

 can be identified by any one character or property, 

 whether microscopical, biological or chemical, but 

 that on the contrary its entire life history must be 

 carefully studied and then its identity established 

 from a consideration of the sum total of these 

 observations. 



In order to give to the recorded results their maxi- 

 mum value it is essential that they should be exact 

 and systematic, therefore some such scheme as the 

 following should be adhered to; and especially is this 

 necessary in describing an organism not previously 

 isolated and studied. 



SCHEME OF STUDY. 



Designation : 



Originally isolated by (observer's name] in (date), 

 from (source of organism) . 



1. Cultural Characters. (Vide Macroscopical Ex- 

 amination of Cultivation, page 261.) 

 Gelatine plates, 



Gelatine streak, 



~ . , . . . at 20 C. 



Gelatine stab, 



Gelatine shake, 



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