20 BACTERIOLOGICAL APPARATUS 
Smillie’s Method. This method depends upon the catalytic action 
of platinized asbestos upon oxygen and hydrogen when they are brought 
into contact. The author claims that the method is well adapted to 
the study of strict anaerobes such as B. botulanus. The method adapt- 
able to cultures in test tubes is described as follows by the author: 
‘“‘ Platinized asbestos is first prepared in the usual way, or it may be 
purchased from any laboratory supply house. A small mass of the 
catalyzer is firmly fixed at the end of a platinum wire by coiling the wire 
about it. The other end of the wire is inserted in the end of a short 
glass rod, and the rod is inserted into a No. 1 
one-hole rubber stopper. The apparatus is 
wrapped in a package and autoclaved. 
“The water of condensation is removed 
from a plain agar slant the tube inoculated, 
inverted, the cotton plug removed and the 
tube filled with hydrogen by means of a sterile 
capillary pipette. The hydrogen may be 
obtained from a Kipp generator, or more 
satisfactorily from a hydrogen tank. It should 
be passed-through a series of wash bottles con- 
taining silver nitrate, sulphuric acid potassium 
permanganate, and lead acetate to remove all 
impurities. 
“ After allowing the hydrogen to fill the 
inverted inoculated test tube, the platinized 
asbestos is heated for a few minutes in a free 
flame, the rubber stopper is inserted firmly into 
the inverted tube and the end of the tube 
rcbie Culture Apparatus upper nto melted paraffin. 
for the Cultivations of e catalyzer glows for a second or 
Obligate Anaerobes in two as the hydrogen and oxygen are actively 
Test Tubes According united, and the water formed is deposited 
to Smillie’s Method. on the surface of the tube. The process 
is now complete and the tube is ready 
for incubation.” Smillie states that this method is satisfactory 
for the usual anaerobe but does not remove all traces of oxygen. 
Another method had to be devised. This is described as follows: 
“Two lengths of nichrome wire No. 22, 6 cm. long, are separately 
fused into a glass tube so that they are insulated (see Fig. 20a) and 
the glass tube B closed at each end is passed through a one-hole rubber 
stopper C. To the lower end of the nichrome wire D thus completing 
Fie. 20 —Sketch of Anae- 
