GROUP OF PYOGENIC COCCI. 47 



treat the infection thoroughly. The period over which 

 the disease may continue infectious in the female may 

 be years, and if the tubes and ovaries are involved 

 sterility usually ensues. 



Gonorrhea! infection of the eyes is fairly com- 

 mon. It occurs in the newborn most often, and is 

 called ophthalmia neonatorum. Ulcers on the cornea 

 which interfere with vision in later life, or complete 

 destruction of the eyeball, may result. It is the chief 

 cause of blindness in children. The infection gets 

 into the eyes during delivery, and as a, prophylactic 

 measure it is advisable to instil a drop or two> of i 

 per cent, nitrate of silver into the eyes immediately 

 after birth. In adults the infection is usually intro- 

 duced by infected fingers, handkerchiefs, or towels. 



Among children in institutions gonorrheal infec- Va e initis 

 tion o>f the vagina, vaginitis, occurs in epidemic form. 

 It spreads from child to child with great rapidity, 

 and is very difficult to check. The infection starts 

 from one child so infected, and is spread by napkins, 

 towels, or directly from one child to another. 



While infections with the gonococcus are gen- 

 erally localized, they may in rare instances become 

 general, causing arthritis, endocarditis, and menin- 

 gitis. The toxin of the gonococcus is within the 

 body of the organism, and is liberated only after 

 death of the cell body. Dead cultures, of gonococci, 

 or vaccines, have been employed in the treatment of 

 the infection, but have proven only partially success- 

 ful in the complications such as arthritis, epididymitis, 



