COMPARISON OF GOLD CHLORID, BENZOIN AND MASTIC TESTS ON CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

The object of this study is to present for comparison the results of 400 reactions of cerebrospinal fluids with the colloidal gold, benzoin and mastic tests. A brief survey of the literature on colloidal tests is summarized in Table 1. Lange, 1 in 1912, added the colloidal gold test to the examination of the cerebrospinal fluid. In 1915, Emanuel's 2 colloidal mastic test furthered such colloidal studies. Cutting, 3 in 1917, modified the mastic test. This modification was the addition of potassium carbonate to the saline solution. Results, both favorable and unfavorable, have been contributed by many observers on the value of the colloidal mastic test. In 1920, Guillain, Laroche, and Lechelle 4 produced the original technic of the colloidal benzoin test. Sixteen test tubes were used, and the dilutions were made with a weak solution of sodium chlorid. This technic was repeatedly simplified until a test of five tubes