  Surface brightness maps at 12 microns, derived from observations with the
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), are used to estimate the integrated
flux at this wavelength from the Galactic bulge as a function of galactic
latitude along the minor axis. A simple model was used to remove Galactic disk
emission (e.g. unresolved stars and dust) from the IRAS measurements. The
resulting estimates are compared with predictions for the 12 micron bulge
surface brightness based on observations of complete samples of optically
identified M giants in several minor axis bulge fields. No evidence is found
for any significant component of 12m emission in the bulge other than that
expected from the optically identified M star sample plus normal, lower
luminosity stars. Known large amplitude variables and point sources from the
IRAS catalogue contribute only a small fraction to the total 12 micron flux.
