208 BACTERIOLOGY. 



cultures and the hardened tissues which are to be stained 

 and subjected to microscopic examination. The results 

 of microscopic study of the cover-slip preparations 

 and those obtained by cultures should in most cases cor- 

 respond, though it not rarely occurs that bacteria are 

 present in such small numbers in the tissues that their 

 presence may be overlooked microscopically, and still 

 they may appear in the cultures. 



If the autopsy has been performed in the proper way, 

 under the precautions given, and sufficiently soon after 

 death, the results of the bacteriological examination 

 should be either negative or the organisms which 

 appear should be in pure cultures. 



This is particularly the case with the cultures made 

 from the internal viscera. 



Both the cover-slips and cultures made from the point 

 of inoculation are apt to contain a variety of organisms. 



If the organism obtained in pure culture fi'om the 

 internal viscera, or those predominating at the point of 

 inoculation of the animal, have caused its death, then 

 subsequent inoculation of pure cultures of this organ- 

 ism into the tissues of a second animal should produce 

 similar results. 



When the autopsy is quite iinished, the remainder of 

 the animal should be burned; all instruments subjected 

 to either sterilization by steam or boiling for fifteen 

 minutes in a 1 to 2 per cent, soda solution, and the board 

 upon which the animal was tacked, as well as the tacks, 

 towels, dishes, and all other implements used at the 

 autopsy, are to be sterilized by steam. All cultures, 

 cover-slips, and, indeed, all articles likely to have 

 infectious material upon them, must be thoroughly 

 sterilized as soon as they are of no further service. 



