MYXOMYCETES AND SCHIZOPHYTES 
167 
crystal-violet. The following schedule gives good results with 
Anthrax and many other bacteria: 
1. Gentian-violet, 5 minutes. 
2. Rinse in water a few seconds. 
3. Gram’s solution (iodine 1 g., potassium iodide 2 g., water 300 c.c.) 
until the color is almost or quite black; this will generally require 
1 or 2 minutes. 
4. 95 per cent alcohol until the color has nearly disappeared. 
5. Rinse in water and examine. If the bacteria are well stained, a 
counter-stain may be added. 
6. Light green or erythrosin, 5 seconds; or Bismarck brown, 5 or 10 
seconds. 
7. 95 and 100 per cent alcohol, dehydrating as rapidly as possible. Not 
more than 5 or 10 seconds can usually be allowed. 
8. Xylol, 1 to 5 minutes. 
9. Balsam. 
After the rinsing in water of stage 5, the preparation may be 
dehydrated rapidly in 95 per cent and 100 per cent alcohol, and then 
stained for 5 or 10 seconds in orange 
dissolved in clove oil. From the 
clove oil, transfer to xylol and mount 
in balsam (Fig. 31). 
With sections not more than 5 /jl 
thick, excellent results can be ob¬ 
tained by staining in iron-alum 
haematoxylin. 
The following rapid method gives 
fairly good results: 
1. Place on a clean cover a drop of 
water containing the bacteria and 
dry completely in a flame or on a 
hot plate. 
2. Stain 2 to 5 minutes in gentian- 
violet or methyl violet. 
3. Rinse quickly in water. 
4. Dip into 95 per cent alcohol to 
reduce the stain. 
5. Remove most of the alcohol by 
touching a corner of the cover with 
filter paper and then dry completely by passing through a flame. 
6. Mount in balsam. 
Fig. 31 .—Bacillus anthracis, from a 
paraffin section cut from the liver of a 
mouse and stained in crystal-violet; w, 
white blood corpuscle; r, red blood cor¬ 
puscle. X 580. 
