1899] Microscopical journal. 247 



Some valuable investigations in the bacteriologic diag- 

 nosis of influenza have been conducted by Wyncoop, of 

 the Chicago Health Department. He found that after 

 some experience the Cannon-Pfeifl'er bacillus could be 

 readily recognized in fresh sputum, and cultures could be 

 easily made on beef blood serum which contained a little 

 hemaglobin. The method was made, in fact, almost as 

 practical as the bacteriological diagnosis of diphtheria. In 

 the course of his studies, Wyncoop found the bacillus in 

 a number of other diseases, such as diptheria, scarlet 

 fever and pneumonia. In all such cases the bacteriologic 

 findings at once cleared up the meaning of symptoms that 

 had before puzzled the clinicians. Thus, in some cases 

 that at first appeared to be diptheria, a pure culture of 

 the influenza bacillus, was found, and the subsequent 

 course of the disease coincided with the bacteriologic di- 

 agnosis. 



Sudan III has been used as a fat dye with excellent re- 

 sults, fat bodies, whether fat cells, or granules in cells 

 urinary casts, or bodies of bacilli, being stained a brilliant 

 red. The fat bodies do not show the blurred appearance 

 seen in osmic acid staining, but stand out with remarka- 

 ble clearness. The dye has also been used as a diff'eren- 

 tial stain for the bacillus tuberculosis. It acts by stain- 

 ing the fat prasent in the bodies of the bacilli. — Pacific 

 Record. 



Notes on Microscopy. 



JOHN H. COOKE. 



Embedding. — The embedding of soft tissues requires 

 considerable skill on the part of the operator. But fre- 

 quently, notwithstanding the greatest care, failure re- 

 sults, either owing to the variable nature of the medium 

 used, or because the processes of hardening have been too 

 protracted. Those who have experienced these difliculties 

 should try the white of an egg as the embedding medium. 



