ANTHRAX. 69 
arranged in chains. Examine the Gram specimens and 
see whether the bacilli are to be seen in them also. 
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS. 
If the case is really one of malignant pustule the 
chances are very greatly in favour of your finding the 
bacilli in large numbers, and the failure to do so tells 
strongly against a positive diagnosis. 
Cultuval methods—The fluid for examination is taken 
in exactly the same way as that described above, but 
the isolation of the organisms will be greatly facilitated 
if antiseptic methods are employed to prevent con- 
tamination with skin: bacteria. To this end the surface 
of the lesion should be washed gently with carbolic or 
perchloride lotion and then (very thoroughly) with 
alcohol or methylated spirit-to remove the antiseptic. 
The surface is then allowed to dry. 
If the material is to be transmitted to a public 
laboratory for examination (and this is the wisest course 
to adopt) the fluid must be carefully sucked up into the 
bulb and both ends of the pipette carefully sealed. 
If the examination is to be made at home the best 
way is to make two inoculations in gelatine. The first 
should be a stab culture and may be made with the 
pipette direct; or the fluid may be blown out into a 
watch-glass or on to the surface of a slide (in either 
case sterilised by being heated in the flame and then 
allowed to cool) and the stab made by dipping the end 
of a straight platinum needle into the fluid and then 
driving it into the gelatin. 
The other culture is made with the pipette; this is 
driven into the gelatin in a tube and the contents blown 
