224 BACTERIOLOGY 



epidermis is decolorised for some seconds in a weak solution 

 of hydrogen peroxide and then transferred to alcohol, xylol, 

 and Canada balsam. 



Unna devised the following method for the rapid recog- 

 nition of fungi in epidermic scales : The horny scale 

 to be examined (crust or comedo) is laid upon a slide, 

 moistened with a drop of acetic acid, and rubbed to a pulp 

 by means of another slide placed crosswise upon the first, 

 after which the two slides are separated and dried rapidly 

 over the flame, so that all the acid is evaporated off 

 again. Some drops of ether and alcohol are now poured 

 upon the free upper end of the slide, in order to wash out 

 the fat, and then two drops of solution of borax and methyl 

 blue are at once placed upon one slide, which is again 

 covered crosswise with the other, and the pair are held over 

 the flame for ten to twenty seconds. The preparations 

 are now either immediately subjected to a further process 

 of bleaching, or are dried over the flame. Styrone, glycol, 

 or equal parts of glycerine and ether are used as bleaching 

 agents. By the first or styrone method the preparations 

 stained in methyl blue are rinsed in alcohol, decolorised for 

 two minutes in styrone, again rinsed in xylol, and put up in 

 balsam ; by the second method, the stained preparations are 

 rinsed in water, decolorised in glycol for two to five minutes, 

 rinsed again in water and then in alcohol, dried over the 

 flame, and mounted in balsam. One per cent, solution of 

 acetic, oxalic, citric, or arsenic acid, or of hydroxylamine, or 

 one per cent, aqueous solution of soap, one per cent, salt 

 solution, five per cent, aqueous solution of resorcine, and one 

 per cent, alcoholic solution of hydrochinone, may be also 

 used for decolorising. 



Diplococcus subflavus. Bumm very frequently found 

 in the vaginal secretion diplococci closely resembling the 

 gonococcus in appearance. They thrive fairly well upon 



