Am.  Jour.  Pbarm.  1 
March,  1903.  J 
Microscopic  Study  of  Urine. 
113 
hand,  since  a  higher  heat  is  liable  to  cause  distortion  of  the  cells. 
Staining  is  best  effected  by  a  solution  of  carbol  fuchsin,  methylin 
blue,  Soudan  III  and  iodine.  The  former  of  these  solutions  when 
employed  without  heat  will  be  found  to  stain  satisfactorily  both 
bacteria  and  the  tissue  cells.  When  heat  is  applied  and  the  speci- 
men steamed,  and  later  counterstained  for  three  (3)  minutes  with 
Gabbetts  blue  solution,  the  tubercle  bacilli  will  appear  as  bright-red 
segmented  rods,  while  other  pathogenic  organisms  will  appear  blue. 
Study  of  the  gonococcus  in  the  urinary  sediment  is  very  unsatisfac- 
tory, and  I  hesitate  to  recommend  its  pursuit.  The  various  fungi 
(mycelium)  are  also  found  in  urinary  sediments,  but  are  of  limited 
clinical  value.1  Soudan  III  and  iodine  are  of  service  in  the  detection 
of  fatty  and  amyloid  changes  respectively.  Spermatozoa  when 
stained  provide  an  interesting  subject. 
MICROSCOPIC  STUDY. 
Most  important  is  a  good  microscope  stand  provided  with  a  one- 
sixth  and  a  two-third  objective,  an  iris  diaphram  and  an  Abbe  con- 
denser. I  cannot  urge  too  strongly  upon  the  use  of  a  thoroughly 
equipped  substage,  and  must  insist  that  the  finer  and  more  valuable 
features  of  urinary  microscopy  are  passed  unrecognized  by  the 
person  who  is  not  thoroughly  trained  in  the  use  of  the  diaphram 
and  of  the  condenser.  Let  it  suffice  to  emphasize  that  a  small 
amount  of  light  should  be  employed  in  the  study  of  urine.  It  is  my 
custom  to  devote  three  hours  of  the  college  course  exclusively  to 
the  manipulation  of  the  microscope ;  yet  this  time  has  proven  to  be 
insufficient  for  the  instruction  of  students  in  the  workings  of  an 
instrument  essentially  so  delicate  and  susceptible  to  error. 
Specimens  should  first  be  examined  under  a  two-third  lens,  and 
by  careful  moving  of  the  slide  the  entire  specimen  is  viewed  quickly. 
All  questionable  bodies  are  brought  to  the  centre  of  the  field,  when 
the  one-sixth  lens  is  brought  into  focus.  Much  time  is  lost  in 
searching  over  a  specimen  with  a  high-power  lens,  and  any  exami- 
nation is  always  far  from  perfect  unless  the  two-third  lens  is  used 
as  a  finder. 
THE  MAKING  OF  RECORDS. 
The  mixing  of  specimens  is  a  common  source  of  annoyance  and 
may  be  avoided  by  use  of  the  following  blank  which  I  have  found 
1  Philadelphia  Medical  Journal,  1901,  p.  446. 
