Bacterioscopy

n. [ Bacterium + -scopy; fr. Gr. bakth`rion, ba`ktron, a staff + skopei^n to view. ] (Biol.) 1. The application of a knowledge of bacteria for their detection and identification, as in the examination of polluted water. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Microscopic examination or investigation of bacteria. -- Bac*te`ri*o*scop"ic a. -- *scop"ic*al*ly adv. -- Bac*te`ri*os"co*pist n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]