20 



CLINICAL BACTERIOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY 



(two may be necessary if the weather is cold) shielded from 

 draughts by means of a wide lamp-chimney or a tin cylinder 

 made out of an ordinary canister. The temperature is observed 

 by means of a thermometer projecting through a hole in the lid, 

 and the night-light raised or lowered until the temperature reaches 

 the desired figure. The whole apparatus should be placed on a 

 metal tray containing a small quantity of 

 water, and put in the middle of the floor, and 

 away from any inflammable materials. This 

 will be found to answer admirably, and can 

 easily be fitted up in an emergency. 



It would be better to use a tin box specially 

 made for the purpose, and having a door at 

 the side and a perforated false bottom, so that 

 the culture-tubes do not rest directly on the 

 metal exposed to the flame. This latter had 

 best be made of copper. 



Dr. Bottomley, of Boscombe, informs me 

 that he has used the simple apparatus shown 

 in Fig. 1 1 for five years, and finds it answers 

 admirably in the diagnosis of diphtheria, etc. 

 It is an ordinary square vaseline tin, into the 

 round opening of which is put a cylindrical coffee tin. The 

 outer tin is filled with water, and a thermometer is put into a hole 

 through its lid. The culture-tubes are placed in the inner tin, and 

 the apparatus is heated by a paraffin lamp. 



If the practitioner is fortunate enough to possess a conservatory 

 which is kept at a temperature approximating to that of the body, 

 this will serve admirably. The culture-tubes must be kept in a 

 box which will exclude light. 



In the absence of this a cupboard near the kitchen fire or the 

 hot-water cistern may be found that will answer the purpose ; a 

 thermometer should be placed in it, and examined from time to 

 time throughout the day, and if the temperature does not fall 

 below 30° nor rise above 40°, it will serve at a pinch, though a 

 temperature which is more constant near 37° is desirable. It has 

 to be remembered that we are not now speaking of the incubation 

 of cultures for purposes of research ; we are dealing with methods 

 of cultivation which are necessary for diagnostic purposes, and 

 for these it is usually sufficient if the temperature remains nearly 

 constant at the proper point for some eighteen hours. 



Fig. II. 



