The bacteriology of every-day practice / [J. Odery Symes].

  • Symes, J. Odery.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The bacteriology of every-day practice / [J. Odery Symes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    making film preparations. In the case of surfaces the wire is well rubbed over the surface so as to get as much material as possible. If the substance in the loop be hard and dry, the film may be made by mixing it with a drop of sterile distilled water on the cover-slip. In taking cultures from the hands, it is best to obtain scrapings from beneath the nails by means of-a straight platinum wire previously sterilized, to cut (with the aid of scissors and forceps sterilized by boiling) portions off the nails, or to snip off fragments of skin. The greatest care must be taken that such fragments are only touched by sterilized instruments, and as speedily as possible trans- ferred to tubes of culture media. DEEP-SEATED ABSCESSES. If it be required to examine pus from these and other similarly situated collections of fluid, the exploring syringe is the best instrument to use. The skin over the spot indicated is rendered aseptic by the method already detailed (p. 18), and syringe and needle are boiled for half an hour. A small quantity of pus having been drawn into the syringe, the needle is withdrawn, and by means of a sterilized loop some of its contents transferred to cover-slips for staining, and to tubes for cultural pur- poses. If the abscess is to be opened by incision, the pus which first escapes is rejected, as it may be contaminated by the edges of the wound. A loopful is then taken, and inoculations and films prepared. TUBERCULAR SUPPURATIONS. If pus be taken from an abscess or other lesion suspected of being tubercular, then the films which are