The practical study of malaria : and other blood parasites / by J.W.W. Stephens and S.R. Christophers.

Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The practical study of malaria : and other blood parasites / by J.W.W. Stephens and S.R. Christophers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Both fixed and unfixed films rapidly develop moulds in damp and hot climates. Moulds appear as branching threads under the microscope. A certain amount of mould does not much interfere with the utility of films if they are intended only for detecting the presence of parasites, counting leucocytes, etc. Unstained films kept for six months or more stain as a rule badly, and are not of much use. Stained films (as we shall see, without putting on Canada balsam and a coverglass) will shew ex- cellent results after many years. Films that have been unfixed at the time of making, and that may have subsequently become damp, will have their red cells destroyed, but the parasites will still stain. The method of wrapping one’s slides up in paper (after duly labelling) is in practice the most convenient one, especially if travelling, when not unfrequently boxes of slides suffer much damage. To Fix Films Until a film has been ‘ fixed ’ it is soluble in water, and will be immediately washed off if placed in water or any watery solution of a stain. When fixed it is insoluble, and may be treated in almost any way without destruction. Except when using Ueishman’s combined fixing and stain- ing solution, the film must always be ‘fixed.’ On returning home or to the laboratory, place the films in a glass-stoppered cylindrical jar, about four inches high and one-and-a-half inch diameter, containing absolute alcohol. When a number of slides are taken, they are placed in