Laboratory handbook of bacteriology / [Rudolf Abel].

  • Abel, Rudolf, 1868-1942.
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Laboratory handbook of bacteriology / [Rudolf Abel]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    7. The Diphtheria Bacillus. Cultures are to be obtained at temperatures above 20° C.—quickest at the body temperature. Growth occurs best on Loeffler’s blood serum (p. 25) prepared from the sheep. On agar, glycerine agar, and the special media described below development is less profuse and the form of bacilli less typical. The alkaline methylene blue of Loeffler (p. 67) is particularly well suited for staining the diphtheria bacillus. The bacillus stains by Gram’s method (do not decolorize too vigorously), and is non-motile. Diphtheria Diagnosis. As regards removal of material from the throat for examination see p. 183. Surface cultures are made on Loeffler’s serum solidified in tubes, or in Petri dishes (p. 25). N.B.—From each sample or batch of serum before it is used for diphtheria diagnosis, a few tubes must be tested as regards their nutrient capacity by inoculating them with pure cultures of diphtheria bacilli. Incubate at blood-heat (in case of necessity in an inner waistcoat pocket). Instead of Loeffler’s blood serum the following media may be used. 1. Glycerine Agar. On this medium the colonies of B. d. remain small and are therefore less easily detected. Moreover, confusion between B. d. and pseudo-diphtheria bacilli is possible in consequence of similarity of form. 2. Serum-Agar of Tnchtennann. 2 % watery solution of agar and 1 % peptone, 1-5 % NaCl and 0-3-0-5 % glucose are filtered and mixed with