DIPHTHERIA. 139 



and a swab or applicator kept in a well-sterilized test-tube. 

 This swab is a small iron rod roughened on one of its ends, 

 and on which a little absorbent cotton is twisted. The test- 

 tube containing the swab is plugged with absorbent cotton and 

 then thoroughly sterilized by dry heat for one hour at 150 C. 

 The blood-serum and swab are neatly packed together in a 

 small pasteboard or wooden box, together with a blank form 

 giving instructions as to how to make the cultures. 

 The cultures from the throat are made as follows : 

 The patient is put in the best possible light, and if he is a 

 child is held firmly by an assistant, the mouth is opened, the 



FIG. 59. 



Culture-box used in municipal laboratories to prepare cultures from throats of 

 diphtheria suspects. 



tongue depressed by means of a spoon or other instrument, 

 the swab taken out of its containing tube and gently rubbed 

 over the false membrane or exudate in the throat, if any, 

 or if no false membrane be present, over the surface of the 

 pillar of the fauces, after which, without laying down the 

 swab, the serum-tube is taken, the plug of cotton removed, 

 and the surface of the swab which has been in contact with 

 the throat of the patient is gently and freely rubbed over the 

 surface of the blood-serum, being careful not to break into it, 



