8o 



PHARMACEUTICAL BACTERIOLOGY 



end of tube by means of a small brush. Apply two or three coats. Thus 

 protected, there is no danger of outside infection. 



The chances are that the physician who calls for tube culture media 

 will also require the use of an incubator. This the pharmacist should 



Fig. 28. — Glass rods with platinum wire, straight and loop, for inoculating culture tubes, 

 Petri plates, etc. — (Williams.) 



have in readiness. The usual copper double- walled water-jacket incuba- 

 tor, with thermo-regulator, kept at a temperature of about 37° C, will 

 serve the purpose. 



The swab to be supplied with each tube of slanted LoefQer's serum 

 consists of a piece of wire or of pine wood four inches long, around the 



Fig. 29.- 



a b c 



-Cover-glass pincers, a and 6 are self-clamping but the pressure is often 

 enough to break thin covers. 



lower end of which a pledget of absorbent cotton has been wound and 

 firmly tied by means of thread. This is placed in a test-tube, which is then 

 plugged with cotton and steriUzed in the dry sterilizer (one hour at a teim- 

 perature of 1 50° C .) . The physician wipes the cotton end of the swab over 



