TUBERCLE. oy 
Cleay exudates are more difficult to examine, and, as 
they usually contain bacilli in very small numbers only, 
a negative result should not be given too much weight. 
They may be allowed to sediment in a conical urine 
glass, a few crystals of camphor being added to prevent 
bacterial growth, carbolic acid being inadmissible as 
it precipitates the proteids. The examination is best 
made in a bacteriological laboratory, as decisive results 
can only be obtained by animal experiments. Collect 
the fluid in a bottle which has previously been boiled 
in water for half an hour and allowed to cool. Cork 
it with a cork which has also been boiled. Add no 
antiseptic and forward it to the laboratory as soon as 
possible. 
Milk may be examined in the same way as urine, 
films being made from the cream as well as from the - 
deposit. These films are fixed, soaked in ether to 
remove fat, and again fixed. They are then stained as 
before, and it is advisable to pass them through alcohol. 
When feces are to be examined the best plan is to 
administer opium in amount sufficient to cause consti- 
pation. The surface of the scybalous motions which 
result are to be scraped off and stained in the usual 
way. 
INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS. 
The finding of tubercle bacilli in the sputum is con- 
clusive evidence of tuberculosis of the lungs, but no 
information as to prognosis can be drawn from the 
numbers which are present; they may occur in great 
quantities in the sputum from patients who are doing 
well, and the author has found enormous numbers in 
