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TUBERCULAR SPUTUM. 33 



This method is shorter but it has not proven so 

 accurate, nor does it give as clear a filni as the Ziehl- 

 Neelsen process. 



5. Staining in sudan III, j 



(a) Place the prepared films in sudan III for 5 

 minutes. 



(h) Wash for 5 minutes in 70% alcohol. 



(c) Wash in water and then dry. 



(d) Counterstain for 1 minute in Loeffler's methy- 

 lene blue. Wash in water, dry and mount in the usual 

 manner. 



Examination of Sputum or Fluids containing 

 but few Tubercle Bacilli. 



When Tubercle bacilli are suspected but cannot be ;. | 



demonstrated by ordinary examinations, several methods 

 may be adopted for further microscopic investigation. * 



(a) Van Ketel's method. Add to the sputum about 

 three or four times its volume of 5% carbolic acid. If 

 the sputum is watery, add pure carbolic acid to make 

 a 5% solution. This is particularly applicable when 

 eximining urine. Shake the mixture thoroughly, for 

 at least five minutes, to break up sputum particles. 

 Pour into a conical urine glass and allow to stand 12 to 

 24 hours. With a pipette, withdraw the lowest portion 

 of sediment for examination by any. of the methods 

 already given. Films must be cleared in the alcohol- 

 ether mixture, before staining. 



(6) A more rapid method is to add to the sputum 

 sufficient 10% caustic potash solution, to liquefy it. 



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