MICROCOCCUS INTRACELLITLARIS MENINGITIDIS 517 



isolation from human material. After the bacteriologist is familiar 

 with the individual strains, he may at times carry his strains on the 

 simpler media, meat infusion agar and broth. 



Growth is more luxuriant and rapid upon media to which animal 

 protein in the form of blood serum or ascitic fluid has been added. 

 Coagulated serum is not liquefied. For cultivation of the meningo- 

 coccus directly from the human body it is wise to use the richer serum 

 or blood media. Agar to which whole rabbit's blood has been added 



FIG. 56. MENINGOCOCCUS IN SPINAL FLUID. 



forms an excellent medium, both for cultivation and for keeping the 

 organism alive. Loeffler's blood serum is less favorable. It is advisable, 

 too, when cultivating directly from spinal fluid, to plant rather large 

 quantities (1 to 2 c.c.), since many of the cocci in the exudate will fail 

 to develop colonies, possibly because of their prolonged exposure either 

 to the body fluids or to their own products in a closed space. 



Upon broth, growth is slow and takes place chiefly upon the sur- 

 face, the sediment consisting mainly of dead bacteria. Glucose added 

 to agar or to broth renders the medium more favorable for rapid 



