112 BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS. 



MORRIS'S METHOD OF STAINING HAIRS, SCALES, &c. 



Requisites. i. Anilin gentian violet, carbol-gentian 

 violet, or carbol-fuchsin. 



2. Gram's iodine solution. 



3. Anilin oil to which sufficient iodine has been added 

 to give it a deep mahogany colour. 



4. Anilin oil. 



5. Xylol. This is not necessary unless the specimens 

 are to be kept permanently. 



6. Blotting paper. 



7. Slides, cover-glasses, and balsam. 



Process. Take the hairs from the edge of the sus- 

 pected area, and cut off all the free portion except a 

 piece about a quarter of an inch long. The root and 

 the part of the shaft next to it are all that are to be 

 examined. Several of these hairs can be stained at the 

 same time. 



Stain in a watch-glass full of stain, or on a slide for a 

 quarter of an hour or longer ; it is an advantage to 

 warm the stain gently, and it will penetrate better if the 

 hairs have been previously washed in ether, though this 

 is not absolutely necessary. 



Remove the hairs from the stain and place them on a 

 slide ; if already on a slide pour off the stain. Dry 

 them with blotting paper and pour on the iodine 

 solution ; allow it to act for five or ten minutes. It is 

 an advantage to blot the specimen after a minute or two 

 and apply a fresh lot of the solution. Blot thoroughly. 



Now decolorise in the solution of iodine in anilin oil. 

 This should be poured off and replaced occasionally, 

 and the specimen examined under a low power of the 



