Collection	Dix
Photographer	Dix, Rennie
Description	Digital image from Yellow box 2. Slide 2: Unknown microscopist using a state-of-the-art Reichert Microscope. Wairau Hospital Laboratory 1955-56. (Notes from Rennie Dix 2012) Bacteriology (now known as Microbiology). A large amount of the work done in a 1950s Laboratory was Bacteriology, the analysing of the various bacteria found in wound and other swabs and body fluids. Material was spread on Agar plates prepared from Beef extracts and incubated at 37degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Individual bacteria grow into visible colonies that can be readily identified by trained Staff and tested against various antibiotics for sensitivity. Sometimes it is necessary to incubate the cultures in an absence of Oxygen using Anaerobic Jars this technique was used for diagnosis of Gas Gangrene Microscopy The microscope was commonly used to examine slides of Bacteria for characteristic shapes (Morphology) which was an aid to identification. The Microscope was also used to count and examine blood cells looking for red cells deficient in iron, white cells for an indication of infection morphology, or other diseases such as leukaemia.
Year Range from	1955
Year range to	1956
Object ID	2013.001.0016
Object Name	Slide, Photographic
Subjects	Wairau Hospital
Title	Reichert Microscope

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Last modified on: December 19, 2014