284 



The Phagocytic Power of the Blood 



better, and in distributing the fluid, it is better to push than to pull 

 it with the end of the shde, rather than its side. 



Miller* says that "a good smear should be uniform in consistency 

 and most of the leukocytes should be found along the edges and 

 at the end. For convenience in counting, it is well to have the 



Fig. 97. — A small incubator of special design for opsonic work (Miller). 



smear terminate abruptly and not be drawn out into threads or 



irregular forms." 



This mixing, incubating, and spreading is done twice — once 



with the serum of the patient, 

 and once with the normal serum 

 of the operator. The technic is 

 the same each time. In order 

 that the enumeration of the 

 bacteria taken up by the leu- 

 kocytes can be accompUshed, it is 

 next necessary to stain the blood 

 smears. This can be done by 



any method that will demonstrate both the bacteria and the cells. 



For staphylococci and similar organisms, Leishman's stain, Jenner's 



stain, or J. H. Wright's stains are appropriate. Marino's stain, 



* "Therapeutic Gazette," March 15, igo?. 



. — The smear (Miller). 



