The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-07

advanced. The test is appropriately
called the "blood test and is not only
simple but practically sure, the disease
being definitely proven by the fourth day.
The test takes but few moments and
the doctor can then make sure if the
suspected disease is typhoid or not
A drop of blood taken from the
patients finger is placed on a card and
taken to the laboratory when it is dis
solved in sterilized water placed on a
glass slide, and to this drop from a
typhoid culture is added. The slide is
then placed under microscope and one
of two things will be seen to happen.
Nothing could be determined from the
unmixed blood, but with the mixture OF
the baoilli in the culture something can
be seen, for If typhoid is present in the
blood or has been within six years
(Which IL easily learned from the patient)
the bacilli cluster together and remain
quiet, or as Mr.. Bryant expresses IL
"they drop out. On the other hand ii
the bacilll continue their movement,
darting constantly to and fro it can be
conclusively determined that the patient
Is ffering from somesa disease other than
typhoid fever. Nothing except typhoid,
at least no disease that could be mistaken
for it, will cause this accumulation of
baoilli and the early oontirmation5 renders
the treatment comparatively simple.
The development of the cultures Is an
interesting study and for the sue.ess of
the experiments, the baoterologfst must
have constantly on hand healthy, dis
ease germs. These are cultivated as a
gardener raises flowers from seeds and
slips. A sample is secured from patient
suffering from the disease-it may be
diphtheria. cholera, scarlet fever con-
sumption, or typhoid fever. and this is
placed in solution that is food for
it and placed in an incubator SO the
conditions are similar under which it
exists in the body. Then the wrlggling
rodlike hacilli begins to grow and pro-
pagate so the few original bacilli de-
velop millions of descendents in short
time, These are placed in tubes, the
end stopped with wad Of cotton and
they are allowed to grow and prosper
until needed. New outlines are made
from these each, month SO they are sure
to be fresh. They live and thrive in a
eelatine-like mixture and one of Mr.
Brynnt's duties is to cool flood for his
bugs rs be affectionately calls then.
The effect of these same bugs ia studied
ON divers guinea pigs and rats, which
find comfortable home in the cellar
of the Science building.
These bugs to the ordinary person are
rather gruesome and would be naturally
avoided foi the little asoks contain the
Du5IHeSs emu VI AslhflO CHoiora enough
to remove half the population of Bruins
wick. about all the fevers that are
usually found dinhrheria, which is
easily studied, and consumption. the
bacilli of which are particularly long
lived and hardy. Handling them require
care and many an investigation has
suffered from lack of prudence.
Mr.. Bryant is also experime nting with
tho new y disinfestant made from wood
alcohol by an apparatus devised by Prof
Robinson. The power of the gas was
shown in a recent experiment. when
through disenfection was secured
through two thioknesses Of a hair mat.
tTess.