320 



MEDICAL BACTEBIOLOOJ 



CHAPTER IX 



BACTERIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS 



EXERCISE 100. EXAMINATION OF BUCCAL SECRETION. 



Definition. The secretion of the mouth, or saliva, is a mixed 

 product derived in part from the mucous glands within the mouth, 

 and also from the parotid, submaxillary and sublingual glands. In 

 disease the normal character of the different parts may vary, or 

 there may be various exudates and growths present. 



Collection. Material for bacteriological examination is best 

 obtained by means of a sterile probang or by forceps. This material 

 may be examined directly by means of cover-glass preparations or 

 by means of cultures. 



a. Method of Preparing Outfit. Wind a small piece of absorbent 

 cotton on the end of a wire (about 1 mm. in diameter and 14 cm. 

 long). Thrust the other end of the wire through 

 the cotton plug of a test-tube or fasten in a cork and 

 sterilize at 150° C. for 1 hour. This with a tube of 

 nutrient medium (usually Loeffler's Blood serum) is 

 placed in a box for transportation. Pig. 38. 



h. Method of Using Outfit. The patient is placed 

 in a good light and the probang gently but firmly 

 rubbed over the suspected area of the throat and then 

 drawn gently over the surface of the medium, both 

 tubes securely stoppered and the outfit sent to the 

 laboratory. 



^ 



v_^ 



Fig. 38. Diph- 

 theria Outfit. 

 Tube 1 is a ster- 

 ile swab; 2 is a 

 blood serum 

 slope. 



Organisms Commonly Pound. 

 Bacterium diphtheriae. 

 The presence of this germ in the mouth usually results in the 

 formation of a pseudo-membrane, a portion of which is to be removed 

 with a pair of forceps, or by means of the outfit described above. It 

 should be examined directly for the diphtheria bacillus by smearing 

 on a cover-glass and staining by following methods : 



