MILK 77 



chiefly small white cocci not unlike the cocci that cause 

 abscesses. They will be considered later under the name 

 Staphylococcus epidermidis albus. 



There is little to be done by the nurse aside from prepara- 

 tion and general assistance, but she should know what is 

 being done and why. 



Fluids are removed from the pleural cavity or spinal 

 canal and elsewhere, because in these locations bacteria of 

 specific kind or in characteristic conditions are to be found. 

 For instance, in cerebrospinal meningitis the causative 

 germs are found within the pus cells of the cerebrospinal 

 fluid, as double, biscuit- shaped cocci, and they have a par- 

 ticular staining reaction by which they are recognized. (See 

 Chapter VIII.) 



The blood is taken from the veins and grown in broth 

 alone or broth stiffened with gelatin or agar-agar jn order 

 to find out if living bacteria are circulating in the blood 

 stream, as is the case in typhoid fever and septicemia. 



For entering these cavities or veins a syringe, preferably 

 of glass, with a good-sized needle, larger than the medicinal 

 hypodermic type, is used. The syringe and needle may be 

 sterilized by boiling, with a pinch of soda, for ten minutes 

 or by autoclave, the best means provided the operation be 

 done immediately. Metal parts will rust if the syringe and 

 needle are sterilized by moist heat and allowed to dry out. 

 The hot-air oven is not suitable for sterilizing in this case. 



Milk. Nurses are frequently required to send samples of 

 milk for examination, especially in well-directed hospitals. 

 Of course, when bottled milk is used an unopened quart 

 bottle should be sent to the laboratory. When the milk is 

 supplied in cans it is necessary to have a sterilized 50 c.c. 

 pipette and a sterilized bottle or flask. The lid of the can is 

 carefully removed, the pipette, held only by the mouth end 

 and protected throughout its length from touching the neck 

 of the can, is plunged into the milk for six inches and filled 

 by suction with the mouth. The milk is transferred to the 



