ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
671 
Microscopical Diagnosis of Anthrax.* * * § — Herr Olt gives the follow- 
ing method for the microscopical diagnosis of anthrax : — 3 grm. of 
safranin are dissolved in 100 grm. of nearly boiling water. When cold 
the solution is filtered. The film is made in the usual way, with blood 
or spleen-juice. The staining solution on the cover-glass is heated to 
boiling for J-l minute. The cover is then washed in water and ex- 
amined. 
In connection with sending samples of anthrax by post, &c., for ex- 
amination, the author remarks that it is improper to pack anthrax material 
in glass or metal cases, as it is likely to putrefy. He advises that a little 
blood or spleen-juice should be dropped on a piece of well-boiled potato. 
This, packed in a matchbox which is not air-tight and covered with paper, 
preserves the moisture sufficiently. This may be despatched at once, or 
retained for 2-24 hours, and thus give an opportunity for vegetating and 
sporing. 
Preparation of Vegetable Casein for Experimental Purposes.f — 
For studying the extracts, the preventive and bactericidal properties of 
leucocytes, an effective pyogenic agent is necessary. This was found in 
1890 in vegetable casein, which is now prepared in a pure condition by 
the following method described by M. J. Colard. A stream of water is 
run through wheat flour enclosed in a bag until the stream comes out 
quite clear, indicating that all the starch has been removed. In this way 
150 grm. of wet gluten are obtained from 1 kgrm. of flour. 100 grm. 
of gluten are macerated in 4 1. of water containing 4 grm. of caustic 
potash per litre. When all the gluten is dissolved, the fluid is decanted 
or filtered through a cloth, and then acetic acid in slight excess is added. 
The purified gluten is thus reprecipitated ; in winter the precipitation 
may be hastened by gently heating the fluid. The vegetable fibrin is 
next removed from the gluten by extracting successively with 60 per 
cent., 80 per cent., and 100 per cent, alcohol. The insoluble residue, 
which is vegetable casein, is dried carefully. From 1 kgrm. of flour 
20 grm. are obtained. As a pyogenic agent it is used in a feebly alka- 
line solution prepared by digesting the pure product in 0*5 per cent, 
potash solution at 37°. It is then reprecipitated with dilute HC1, and 
redissolved in water to which a few drops of caustic soda solution have 
been added. To excite suppuration, 8—10 ccm. of the alkaline solu- 
tion at 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, are injected into a pleural sac. In 
about two days an equal quantity of pus may be withdrawn. 
Blood Stains and the Guaiacum Test.f — Mr. E. Schaer states that 
blood stains are easily dissolved out in a 70 per cent, aqueous solution 
of chloral hydrate ; if old, the process is facilitated by moistening the 
stain with dilute acetic acid. And inasmuch as guaiacum (and also 
guaiaconic acid) is soluble in the chloral solution, the guaiacum blue 
reaction is much simplified. 
Filling Fermentation-Tubes. § — Mr. W. W. Alleger fills fermenta- 
tion-tubes with hot bouillon, from which the air has been expelled by a 
* Deutsche Tier'arzt. Wochenschr., 1899, No. 1. See Centralbl. Bakt. u. Par., 
l le Abt., xx vi. (1889) pp. 157-8. t Ann. Inst. Pasteur, xiii. (1899) pp. 735-6. 
X Amer. Mon. Micr. Journ., xx. (1899) pp. 271-83. 
§ Journ. Applied Microscopy, ii. (1899) p. 496. 
2 y 2 
