204 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [July 
collar and neck of bottle, and press together. The parts 
must be scrupulously clean and free from grease before 
the application of the plaster. Apply an excess of this latter, 
and after having pushed the parts together, wipe off the 
superfluity. Let it stand to set for 24 hours. 
BACTERIOLOGY. 
VARIABILITY OF THE TUBERCLE BACILLUS.—Carl Ra- 
mus, in the Jour. Am. Med. Assoc’n, speaking of the va- 
riability of the tubercle bacillus concludes as follows: 
1. Tubercle bacilli are not so easy to demonstrate as 
is often believed even though present in large numbers. 
2. The fuchsin solutions, like those of other dyes, can- 
not at all time be absolutely depended upon. 
3. Tubercle bacilli from different patients, and from, 
the same patient at different times, will not invariably 
stain by one method. 
4. The bacilli exhibiting these varying staining pro- 
perties are genuine tubercle bacilli, and not other species 
of acid-resisting germs. 
5. The staining variations probably depended on phy- 
sical and chemical changes in the bacterial substance, in- 
stituted either by antitoxic action or by the products of 
associated organisms, or by a combination of both. | 
6. In the absence of demonstrated tubercle bacilli, 
where physical signs of tuberculosis exist, a prompt di- 
agnosis of that disease should be confidently made in the 
interest of the patient, and no valuable time be lost in 
waiting for typical bacilli to appear, | 
SPpuTuM AND URINE.—Suspected cases which may be 
confirmed by chemical and microscopical examinations are 
solicited. We don’t want your practice, but we want the 
_ work that you may not have facilities or apparatus for. 
Send sputum in a clean, wide-necked bottle (as a 1-dram 
morphine bottle), prepaid by express, accompanied by a 
two-dollar bill, and it will be examined for tubercle and 
