CHAPTER XXV 

 EXAMINATION OF BUCCAL AND PHARYNGEAL MATERIAL 



IN a preparation made from material taken by a sterile swab from 

 the region of the normal buccal and pharyngeal cavities and stained by 

 Gram's method we are struck by the variety of organisms present. 

 The fungi of thrush are best examined for in a preparation of membrane 

 mounted in 10% caustic potash solution. Manilla may be found in 

 sprue ulcerations about tongue or buccal mucosa. In examining for 

 buccal amoebae mount the purulent material from pyorrhoea in the 



FIG. 104. Vincent's angina. Spirochata vincenti. (Coplin.) 



patient's saliva. Smears from about carious teeth often show the fusi- 

 form bacillus and delicate spirillum of Vincent as well as cocci. 



Gram-positive and Gram-negative staphylococci are normally present, as are also 

 streptococci, pneumococci, leptothrix forms, and very probably yeasts and sarcinae 

 types with many Gram-negative bacilli. If pseudo-diphtheria organisms are 

 present, we have these showing a Gram-positive reaction. If this material is 

 smeared on agar plates and cultured at 37C., we are struck by the fact that the 

 colonies on the plates may be exclusively staphylococcal and streptococcal. 



Of course diphtheroids as well as diphtheria organisms grow well on ordinary agar 

 plates. For Meningococcus carriers a blood agar or starch agar plate is advisable. 



It is very difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish a Pneumococcus colony from 



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