MICROCOCCUS INTRACELLULARIS MENINGITIDIS 



375 



While slight alkalinity or acidity does not inhibit, the most favor- 

 able reaction of media is neutrality. 



Oxygen is necessary for development. Complete anaerobiosis, while 

 not absolutely inhibitory, is extremely unfavorable, unless proper 

 carbohydrates be present. 



While growth may take place at temperatures ranging from 25 



FIG. 79. MENINGOCOCCUS CULTURE. Streak culture from spinal fluid on 



serum agar-plate. 



to 42 C., the optimum is 37.5 C. Apart from the remarkable viability 

 displayed upon calcium-carbonate broth, the average length of time 

 during which the meningococcus will remain alive without transplanta- 

 tion is rather short. Recently isolated cultures grown on agar or serum- 

 agar may die within two or three days. Accustomed to artificial cul- 

 tivation through a number of generations, however, the cultures become 



