Chapter II: Preface: To the First Edition

In the following pages I have endeavoured to arrange briefly and concisely the various methods at present in use for the study of bacteria, and the elucidation of such points in their life-histories as are debatable or still undetermined.

Of these methods, some are new, others are not; but all are reliable, only such having been included as are capable of giving satisfactory results even in the hands of beginners. In fact, the bulk of the matter is simply an elaboration of the typewritten notes distributed to some of my laboratory classes in practical and applied bacteriology; consequently an attempt has been made to present the elements of bacteriological technique in their logical sequence.

I make no apology for the space devoted to illustrations, nearly all of which have been prepared especially for this volume; for a picture, if good, possesses a higher educational value and conveys a more accurate impression than a page of print; and even sketches of apparatus serve a distinct purpose in suggesting to the student those alterations and modifications which may be rendered necessary or advisable by the character of his laboratory equipment.

The excellent and appropriate terminology introduced by Chester in his recent work on "Determinative Bacteriology" I have adopted in its entirety, for I consider it only needs to be used to convince one of its extreme utility, whilst its inclusion in an elementary manual is calculated to induce in the student habits of accurate observation and concise description.

With the exception of Section XVII--"Outlines for the Study of Pathogenic Bacteria"--introduced with the idea of completing the volume from the point of view of the medical and dental student, the work has been arranged to allow of its use as a laboratory guide by the technical student generally, whether of brewing, dairying, or agriculture.

So alive am I to its many inperfections that it appears almost superfluous to state that the book is in no sense intended as a rival to the many and excellent manuals of bacteriology at present in use, but aims only at supplementing the usually scanty details of technique, and at instructing the student how to fit up and adapt apparatus for his daily work, and how to carry out thoroughly and systematically the various bacterioscopical analyses that are daily demanded of the bacteriologist by the hygienist.

Finally, it is with much pleasure that I acknowledge the valuable assistance received from my late assistant, Mr. J. B. Gall, A. I. C., in the preparation of the section dealing with the chemical products of bacterial life, and which has been based upon the work of Lehmann.

JOHN W. H. EYRE.

GUY'S HOSPITAL, S. E.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. LABORATORY REGULATIONS 1

II. GLASS APPARATUS IN COMMON USE 3

The Selection, Preparation, and Care of
Glassware, 8--Cleaning of Glass
Apparatus, 18--Plugging Test-tubes and
Flasks, 24.

III. METHODS OF STERILISATION 26

Sterilising Agents, 26--Methods of
Application, 27--Electric Signal Timing
Clock, 38.

IV. THE MICROSCOPE 49

Essentials, 49--Accessories, 57--Methods
of Micrometry, 61.

V. MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION OF BACTERIA AND OTHER MICRO-FUNGI 69

Apparatus and Reagents used in Ordinary
Microscopical Examination, 69--Methods of
Examination, 74.

VI. STAINING METHODS 90

Bacteria Stains, 90--Contrast Stains,
93--Tissue Stains, 95--Blood Stains,
97--Methods of Demonstrating Structure of
Bacteria, 99--Differential Methods of
Staining, 108.

VII. METHODS OF DEMONSTRATING BACTERIA IN TISSUES 114

Freezing Method, 115--Paraffin Method,
117--Special Staining Methods for
Sections, 121.

VIII. CLASSIFICATION OF FUNGI 126

Morphology of the Hyphomycetes,
126--Morphology of the Blastomycetes,
129.

IX. SCHIZOMYCETES 131

Anatomy, 134--Physiology,
136--Biochemistry, 144.

X. NUTRIENT MEDIA 146

Meat Extract, 148--Standardisation of
Media, 154--The Filtration of Media,
156--Storing Media in Bulk, 159--Tubing
Nutrient Media, 160.

XI. ORDINARY OR STOCK CULTURE MEDIA 163

XII. SPECIAL MEDIA 182

XIII. INCUBATORS 216

XIV. METHODS OF CULTIVATION 221

Aerobic, 222--Anaerobic, 236.

XV. METHODS OF ISOLATION 248

XVI. METHODS OF IDENTIFICATION AND STUDY 259

Scheme of Study, 259--Macroscopical
Examination of Cultivations,
261--Microscopical Methods,
272--Biochemical Methods, 276--Physical
Methods, 295--Inoculation Methods,
315--Immunisation, 321--Active
Immunisation, 322--The Preparation of
Haemolytic Serum, 327--The Titration of
Haemolytic Serum, 328--Storage of
Haemolysin, 331.

XVII. EXPERIMENTAL INOCULATION OF ANIMALS 332

Selection and Care of Animals,
335--Methods of Inoculation, 352.

XVIII. THE STUDY OF EXPERIMENTAL INFECTIONS DURING LIFE 370

General Observations, 371--Blood
Examinations, 373--Serological
Investigations, 378--Agglutinin,
381--Opsonin, 387--Immune Body, 393.

XIX. POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION OF EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS 396

XX. THE STUDY OF THE PATHOGENIC BACTERIA 408

XXI. BACTERIOLOGICAL ANALYSES 415

Bacteriological Examination of Water,
416--Examination of Milk, 441--Ice Cream,
457--Examination of Cream and Butter,
457--Examination of Unsound Meats,
460--Examination of Oysters and Other
Shellfish, 463--Examination of Sewage and
Sewage Effluents, 466--Examination of
Air, 468--Examination of Soil,
470--Testing Filters, 478--Testing of
Disinfectants, 480.