ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 517 



Glorieux method described in this Journal, 1886, p. 537. The latter 

 operation only takes five minutes altogether. 



Staining of Syphilis and Tubercle Bacilli.* — Dr. B. Bienstock relying 

 on the assumption that smegma bacilli owe their resistance to decoloration 

 to a coating of fatty matter, bred various kinds of bacilli (of faeces, of 

 green pus, of anthrax, and of typhoid bacillus) in butter-gelatin. According 

 to his expectation, he found that the bacilli thus cultivated show the 

 same resistance to acids as do those of syphilis and tubercle. The material 

 employed was 100 grm. of agar-gelatin mixed with about 20 grm. of 

 boiled butter. The mass having been sterilized is placed in test-tubes 

 and frequently shaken up and the test-tubes put in an oblique position, in 

 order that only a small drop of butter may find its way to the top of the 

 gelatin when it sets. The bacilli grown in the butter-layer were found 

 to possess the staining property alluded to, but not those found in the 

 layers below or above. 



The author explains these facts by supposing that the fat-envelope 

 permits the passage of colouring matter but resists the penetration of any 

 decolorizing watery fluid. The staining of tubercle is, according to the 

 author, due to a mantle of fat derived from the necrosed tissues or from the 

 blood-serum ; and if this be the cause the diagnostic value of the Ehrlich 

 stain is lowered and ceases to be a characteristic of tubercle bacilli. 



Staining Syphilis Bacilli.f — After the ordinary fixative in the flame 

 and staining with fuchsin, Dr. De Giacomi washes the cover-glass with 

 water in which a few drops of iron chloride are dissolved, and then 

 decolorizes in concentrated iron chloride. The bacilli appear red ; no other 

 bacilli are stained. The preparation may be contrast-stained if desired. 



Staining Micro-organisms in the tissues of children affected with 

 hereditary Syphilis.| — Drs. M. Kassowitz and C. Hochsinger have found, 

 especially in the blood-vessels of the affected organs, collections of chain- 

 cocci. The authors employed Gram's method. For permanent prepara- 

 tions it was found advisable either to leave the sections in the gentian- 

 violet solution for 12 to 24 hours, or to use a concentrated solution (30 

 parts alcoholic gentian-violet solution to 70 parts anilin water). Acids 

 completely decolorized the bacteria. Double staining was effected by 

 means of picro-carmine, the solution being afterwards washed in a 1 per 

 cent, hydrochloric acid alcohol, and then neutralized in a half per cent, 

 solution of potash. By the foregoing method the bacteria appear dark 

 blue, and the rest of the tissue a brightish red. 



Staining of Lepra BaciUi.§ — The well-known rapid disappearance of 

 the stain from lepra bacilli induced Dr. P. G. Unna to ascertain the 

 reason for this phenomenon, in order to be able to meet it by proper rules. 

 The original supposition that the decoloration of the permanent prepara- 

 tions in question depends on an oxidation of the resins and ethereal oils 

 used for clearing up and for mounting, was not confirmed : it rather turned 

 out that if, as there is no doubt from Dr. Unna's experiments, an oxidizing 

 action comes into play in the decolorizing of balsam preparations, this at 

 any rate is to be regarded only as a reduction of the anilin colours. In 

 order to trustworthily demonstrate the affinity for oxygen of the ordinary 

 (i. e. in use) clarifying and mounting materials, Dr. Unna recommends the 



* Fortschr. d. Med., iv. (1886) p. 193. 

 t Oorrespbl. d. Schweizer Aerzte, 1885, No. 12. 

 X Wiener Med. Blatter, 1886, Nos. 1-3. 



§ Monatschr. f. Prakt. Dermatol., Erganzungsh. 1885, p. 47. Cf. Zeitschr. f. Wiss. 

 Mikr., ii. (1885) pp. 557-9. 



