530 BACTERIOLOGY. 



immunity against gonorrhoeal infection, information on 

 this subject is at present wanting. Immunity in man 

 seems to be similar to that produced after infection with 

 the other pyogenic cocci that is, only slight in amount 

 and for a short period. It is known that a urethra or 

 cervix may contain gonococci which lie dormant and 

 may be innocuous in that person for years, but which 

 may at any time excite an acute gonorrhoea in the one 

 carrying the infection or in another person. 



The Bacteriological Diagnosis of Gonorrhoea. In view 

 of the fact that several non-specific forms of urethritis 

 exist, and also that micrococci morphologically similar 

 to the gonococcus Neisser are often found in the normal 

 urethral and vulvo-vaginal tract, it becomes a matter 

 of great importance to be able to detect gonococci when 

 present and to differentiate these from the non-specific 

 organisms. The gonococci also which occur in old cul- 

 tures and in chronic urethritis of long standing often 

 take on a very diversified appearance sometimes 

 nothing but an irregular, granular mass being seen, 

 which renders their detection difficult. From a medico- 

 legal and social stand-point, therefore, the differential 

 diagnosis of the gonococcus has in certain cases a very 

 practical significance. 



There are two methods of differential diagnosis now 

 available the microscopical and the cultural. Animal 

 inoculations are of little value, as they are not sus- 

 ceptible, and, of course, human inoculations are, except 

 in extremely important cases, generally impossible. In 

 the microscopical diagnosis it should be borne in mind 

 that the specific gonococci in carefully made prepara- 

 tions are found always largely within the pus-cells. 

 Diplococci morphologically similar to gonococci occur- 



