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The essential features are to obtain a dry, thin layer of a selected portion of the suspected sputum, which is then to be deeply stained with fuchsin or methyl-violet; the excess of color is to be removed with nitric acid, and the preparation is then ready for examination with the microscope.

A saturated alcoholic solution of methyl-violet or fuchsin is made and filtered, and added, drop by drop, to a filtered, saturated solution of aniline oil shaken in water.

If the bacilli are stained red with fuchsin, the background should be made blue.

Saturated, watery methyl-green solution is mixed with alcoholic fuchsin.

The stain, which only requires a small fixation, is completed in a few minutes, and colours the nuclei green, the red blood corpuscles red, the protoplasm of the leucocytes fuchsin colour.