RINGWORM. 113 



microscope. When the decolorisation appears to be 

 complete pour off the solution and replace it by anilin 

 oil ; allow this to act for a minute or two. 



If the specimen is not to be kept permanently it may 

 now be mounted in balsam and examined at once. If 

 it is to be kept the anilin oil must be washed out by 

 several applications of xylol. Mount in balsam. 



Adamson's method gives even better results, but is 

 somewhat more tedious. 



Requisites. i. Liquor potassae. 



2. Dilute alcohol about 15 per cent. 



3. Anilin gentian violet or its substitutes. 



4. Gram's iodine solution. 



5. Anilin oil. 



6. Xylol. 



7. Blotting paper. 



8. Slides, cover-glasses, and balsam. 



Process. Prepare the fragments of hair as before, 

 rejecting the free portions. Place them on a slide, add 

 a drop or two of liquor potassae and apply a cover-glass. 

 Allow the liquor to act for a quarter of an hour or 

 twenty minutes. 



Now place a large drop of dilute spirit at one edge of 

 the cover-glass and a piece of blotting paper at the oppo- 

 site edge ; this will suck up the potash and the spirit will 

 run in and replace it. After a few minutes lift off the 

 cover-glass and wash the hairs gently in more spirit. 

 This will harden them. Dry. If epithelial scales are 

 being examined they may be fixed to the slide or cover- 

 glass by heat in the usual way. 



Stain in anilin gentian violet for half an hour or less. 



Pour off the stain, blot gently, and pour on Gram's 

 iodine solution. Allow this to act for five minutes. 

 Blot again. 



i 



