264 BACTERIOLOGY. 



growth is sometimes observed, more often in the latter 

 than in the former, but of so feeble a nature that these 

 substances cannot be regarded as suitable for its culti- 

 vation. As a rule, development does not occur on 

 glycerin agar. 



Microscopic examination of colonies of this organism 

 reveals the presence of a diplococcus somewhat larger 

 than the ordinary pyogenic cocci. The opposed sur- 

 faces of the individual cells that comprise the couplets 

 are flattened and separated by a narrow slit. At times 

 the cocci are arranged as tetrads. 



This organism cannot be grown at a temperature 

 lower than that of the human body, and cultures that 

 have been obtained by either of the favorable methods 

 are said to lose their vitality when kept at ordinary 

 room temperature for about two days. 



It is killed in a few hours by drying. 



Cultures retain their vitality under favorable condi- 

 tions of nutrition, temperature, and moisture for from 

 three to four weeks. 



It is without pathogenic properties for monkeys, 

 dogs, and horses, as well as for the ordinary smaller 

 animals used for this purpose in the laboratory. 



In man typical gonorrhoea has been produced on 

 several occasions by the introduction into the urethra 

 of pure cultures of this organism. 



In addition to its causal relation to specific ure- 

 thritis, it is the cause of gonorrhoeal prostatitis in 

 man, of gonorrhoeal proctitis in both sexes, and of gon- 

 orrhoeal inflammation of the urethra, of Bartholin's 

 glands, of the cervix uteri, and of the vagina in 

 women and young girls. It is etiologically related to 

 the specific conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum) of 



