20 



CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY AND H^MATOLOGY 



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materials. This will be found to answer admirably, and can 

 easily be fitted up in an emergency. 



It would be better to use a tin box specially made for the 

 purpose, and having a door at the side and a perforated 

 false bottom, so that the culture-tubes do not rest directly 

 on the metal exposed to the flame. This latter had 

 best be made of copper. 



Dr. Bottomley, of Boscombe, informs me 

 that he has used the simple apparatus 

 shown in Fig. 7 for five years, and finds it 

 answers admirably in the diagnosis of diph- 

 theria, etc. It is an ordinary square vase- 

 line tin, into the round opening of which is 

 put a cylindrical coffee tin. The outer tin 

 is filled with water, and a thermometer is 

 put into a hole through its lid. The cul- 

 ture-tubes are placed in the inner tin, and 

 the apparatus is heated by a paraffin lamp. 

 If the practitioner is fortunate enough 

 to possess a conservatory which is kept at 

 a temperature approximating to that of the 

 body, this will serve admirably. The cul- 

 ture-tubes must be kept in a box which will exclude light. 



In the absence of this a cupboard near the kitchen fire or the 

 hot-water cistern may be found that will answer the purpose ; 

 a thermometer should be placed in it, and examined from time 

 to time throughout the day, and if the temperature does not 

 fall below 30 nor rise above 40, it will serve at a pinch, 

 though a temperature which is more constant near 37 is 

 desirable. It has to be remembered that we are not now 

 speaking of the incubation of cultures for purposes of 

 research; we are dealing with methods of cultivation which 

 are necessary for diagnostic purposes, and for these it is 

 usually sufficient if the temperature remains nearly constant 

 at the proper point for some eighteen hours. 



Another method I have recently adopted is to use a " Ther- 

 mos" flask, or, what comes to the same thing, a Dewar's 

 liquid air flask. This is nearly filled with water at a tempera- 

 ture of about 40 C. and the culture-tube inserted. If a Ther- 

 mos is used the cap is then applied, if a Dewar's flask a few 

 drops of oil are placed on the surface of the water (to pre- 



FIG. 7. 



