250 
SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 
the chromatin bodies of all the nuclei which have as yet been examined 
were stained blue, the rest of the nuclei and the cell-protoplasm red. 
Employment of Dead Bacteria in the Serum Diagnosis of Typhoid 
and Malta Fever.* — Prof. A. E. Wright and Surgeon-Major D. Semple 
confirm Widal’s observation that the agglomeration phenomenon is equally 
characteristic with dead bacteria, and they further find that it also 
holds good for Micrococcus melitensis. Emulsions of fresh agar cultures 
were drawn up into small glass capsules, and these exposed to a tempera- 
ture of 60° C. for five to ten minutes. The dead bacteria capsules were 
laid aside for three to nine weeks, and then, having been well shaken up, 
were used for serum diagnosis. Microscopical observation did not reveal 
any differences in the method in which agglomeration occurred in the 
living and dead cultures after addition of dilute serums ; and the experi- 
ments with capillary sero-sedimentation tubes gave even more interesting 
results. 
(3) Cutting-, including 1 Imbedding and Microtomes. 
Cutting and Mounting of Sections of Cereal Grains.f — Mr. J. D. 
Hyatt says that, for making satisfactory sections of grains, the main 
precaution consists'in slightly moistening the kernels. Indian corn may be 
kept moist for 24 hours, wheat four or five hours, rye five or six, barley 
ten or twelve, and oats not more than one or two hours. For imbedding, 
paraffin is the best material, as it holds the grain so firmly that it 
may be cut in any direction. Any section-cutting contrivance will serve, 
provided the knife be sharp. If the sections be too thin the starch-grains 
will fall out, and if too thick the gluten cells will be disagreeably opaque. 
Glycerin-jelly is the best medium for mounting. The sections are best 
removed from the knife by a camel’s hair brush, and are then deposited 
in water, from which they are transferred to the centre of a horizon- 
tally placed slide. Warm glycerin-jelly is then put on, after which 
a cover-glass, slightly heated over a spirit-lamp, is carefully deposited 
on the gelatin. The cover-glass must be allowed to settle gradually 
and by its own weight, no pressure being applied. If the gelatin 
have become too hard to allow the cover to settle, the cover may be 
pressed, and then heat applied to the under-surface of the slide. 
(4) Staining and Injecting. 
Effect of certain Chemical and Physical Agents on the Staining of 
Sporous and Asporous Bacteria.f — M. C. X. Hierocles exposed the 
following bacteria, B. mycoides , B. subtilis } drumstick bacillus, a thermo- 
philous species cultivated at 56° C., typhoid and diphtheria bacilli, to 
the influence of certain agents, to ascertain whether the action of the 
latter improved or deteriorated the absorption of pigments in solution. 
Aqueous and anilin-water fuchsin solutions were used. Dry and moist 
heat increased the stainability of sporogenous bacteria and their rest- 
ing forms for anilin-water fuchsin. B. subtilis and B. mycoides stained 
* Brit. Med. Journ., 1897, i. pp. 1214-5. 
f Journ. New York Micr. Soc., xiii. (1897) pp. 19-24 (1 pi.). 
$ Arch. f. Hygiene, xxviii. p. 163. See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., l te Alt., xxi, 
(1897) pp. 416-7. 
