13 
the laboratory, y’here the examinations were to be made, but as the 
work progressed the following methods were developed and veiy little 
trouble was experienced: 
The attendants on the wards were provided with aluminum cham- 
bers into which the stools were passed in the morning before or 
immediately after breakfast, when the patients generally desire to 
defecate. The stubbornness and the suspicious ideas of the patients 
in many cases were difficult to overcome, but there were very few 
cases where by patience and persistence on the part of the attendants 
the specimen could not be obtained. The chambers containing the 
feces were set aside in a vacant room by the attendants. 
From one to two grams was taken from each specimen (preferably 
from the surface) and wrapped in a piece of common wrapping paper. 
These papers being thoroughly wrapped together in a large piece of 
paper made a small package which could be carried handily and with- 
out odor. In case the excrement were fluid, small glass jars with 
screw tops were used. To transfer the specimen to the paper or jar 
we made use of 1 by 3 inch glass slides, which were cleanl}^ and could 
be readily washed and reused, or of stifi" cardboard slips. 
Ten preparations were made from each specimen for examination 
with the microscope, using the following technique: The large 2 by 
3 inch glass slides were used, these being cleaner and more easily 
handled than the ordinary 1 by 3 inch slide. A drop of distilled 
water was placed on each slide, and with this a portion of the feces 
little larger than a pin head was thoroughly mixed by rubbing with 
the end of a glass rod. On this preparation was placed a three-quarter 
inch cover glass (square preferred) of medium thickness. Two prep- 
arations were made on each slide and then examined with the micro- 
scope while fresh without staining, using a lens of moderate power, 
such as the Zeiss 8 mm. or the Zeiss C. To insure greater accuracy 
at least two men examined preparations from each specimen. The 
examination of ten specimens (100 preparations) is an average daj^’s 
work for one person. 
