For the preparation of microscopical specimens it will be found convenient to use a platinum inoculating needle, sterilised, as before directed, in the sheet-iron box; in a few moments it will be cool enough not to destroy the bacteria with which it is brought into contact.
Unstained Bacteria.—The bacteria in liquids, such as blood and culture-fluids, can be investigated in the unstained condition by transferring a drop with a looped platinum needle, or a capillary pipette, to a slide, covering it with a clean cover-glass, and examining without further treatment. If it is desirable to keep the specimen under prolonged observation, a drop of sterilised water or salt solution must be run in at the margin of the cover-glass to counteract the tendency to dry.
Cultures on the solid media can be examined by transferring a small portion with a sterilised needle to a drop of sterilised water on a slide, thinning it out, and covering with cover-glass as already described. Tissues in the fresh state may be teased out with needles ([Fig. 249]) in sterilised salt solution, and pressed out into a sufficiently thin layer between the slide and cover-glass. Glycerine may in many cases be substituted for salt solution, especially for such as actinomyces and mould fungi.
Very small bacilli and micro-cocci are distinguished from granular matter or fat-crystals, or vice versâ, by the fact that the latter are altered or dispersed by the addition of acetic acid, and changed by solution of potash; ether dissolves out fatty particles, while micro-organisms remain unaffected. Baumgarten demonstrated tubercle bacilli in sections by treating them with potash, which clarified the tissues and brought the bacilli clearly into view. In examining unstained bacteria the iris-diaphragm should be used, and the sub-stage condenser carefully centred and focussed.
His’s Method of Staining.—A slide is prepared as for bacteria in the fresh state; the reagents are then applied by placing them with a pipette drop by drop at a margin of the cover-glass, and causing them to flow through the preparation by means of a strip of filter-paper placed at the opposite margin.
Babès’ Method is as follows: A little of the growth spread out on a cover-glass into as thin a film as possible; when almost dry, apply a drop or two of a weak aqueous solution of methyl-violet from a pipette to the film; any excess of the stain must be removed by gentle pressure with a strip of filter-paper.
Cover-glass Preparations.—A cover-glass is smeared with the substance to be examined spread out into a sufficiently thin layer; in the case of cultures on solid media, diffuse the bacteria in a little sterilised water. By means of another cover-glass the juice or fluid is squeezed out from between them into a thin layer, and on sliding them apart each cover-glass bears on it a thin film of the material. The cover-glass is then placed with its film side upwards and allowed to dry. After a few minutes it is passed from above downwards through the flame of a Bunsen burner three times. Apply two or three drops of an aqueous solution of fuchsine or methyl-violet to cover the film, wash away any surplus stain after a few minutes with distilled water. The cover-glass is then allowed to dry, when the preparation may be mounted in Canada balsam, or while still wet, turned over on a slide, and the excess of water removed with filter-paper.
If necessary to apply stain for a much larger period, pour staining solution into a watch glass and allow cover-glass to swim on surface with prepared side downwards.
Crookshank, instead of watery solutions of aniline dyes, prefers to use stronger solutions, and to reduce the staining by a momentary immersion in alcohol. The method is as follows: cover-glass preparations are stained with carbolised fuchsine (Neelsen’s solution) for about two minutes, rinsed in alcohol for a few seconds, and quickly washed in water. This method is specially valuable for sarcinæ and streptococci.
Gram’s Method.—The whole film is first stained violet with gentian-violet, fixed by a solution of iodine, in iodide of potassium in the bacilli, but not in any débris, pus cells, or tissue elements present. Transfer cover-glass to alcohol, the bacilli alone remain stained, the violet colour being changed to blue. By employing a contrast colour, such as eosin, a double staining is obtained.