Abstract
Variations in the staining intensity of portions of the bacterial cell so that the bacterium appeared to contain granules situated at the poles were noted while employing a Gray's flagella stain on a glucose broth culture of Eberthella typhi. Subsequent investigation demonstrated that with improved technic the granules could be shown in a variety of bacteria irrespective of the sugar employed but inversely related in size and frequency of appearance to the age of the culture.
A slide is prepared as for a flagella stain and a ring marked on it with a wax pencil. Two loopfuls of sterile water are placed within the ring and to this is added a loopful of the culture. This is allowed to dry without heating and a quantity of 10% alcoholic basic fuchsin sufficient to cover completely the ringed area is dropped on. After 7 to 10 minutes, during which it is kept moist with drops of 95% alcohol, the stain is washed off with water, a drop of acid alcohol placed at the periphery of the ringed area, and instantly washed off with a gentle stream of water. After drying in the air, the slide is ready for observation.
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