326 AGKICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL BACTEEIOLOGY 



the cells being arranged in irregular masses or in pairs. 

 The gonococcus stains readily with the ordinary aniline 

 dyes. The fact that it is Gram-negative facilitates differen- 

 tial diagnosis between infections with gonococcus and the 

 other pus-producing bacteria. 



Culture. The gonococcus is usually secured by smear- 

 ing serum agar in plates with gonorrheal pus. The colonies 

 which develop resemble somewhat those of streptococci, 

 being small, well-separated and transparent. Care must be 

 used to maintain a medium that has a moist surface and the 

 right hydrogen ion concentration, best that of the blood. 

 After a few transfers the organism develops more luxuri- 

 antly on artificial media. 



Physiology. The gonococcus is aerobic, easily de- 

 stroyed by drying, and in the laboratory rapidly undergoes 

 autolysis, making it necessary to transfer cultures every two 

 or three days when they are kept at blood heat. The organ- 

 ism remains viable in culture media for a somewhat longer 

 period of time in the ice chest. 



Pathogenesis. Gonorrheal infection of the membranes 

 of the eye sometimes occurs at birth, leading to the develop- 

 ment of the so-called gonorrheal ophthalmia, or ophthalmia 

 neonatorum. In some localities physicians and midwives 

 are. required to drop solutions containing suitable silver 

 salts into the eyes of newborn children to prevent the devel- 

 opment of this disease. 



Gonorrhea is usually regarded as the most important of 

 the so-called venereal diseases. In the male it is first an 

 acute inflammation of the urethra which extends in many 

 cases to the prostate gland. Chronic inflammation of this 

 gland may lead to the formation of scar tissue and a 

 decrease in the size of the urethral tube, producing the so- 

 called stricture. In the early stages the disease is charac- 

 terized by considerable quantities of purulent discharge. 

 "When it becomes chronic, as it may in prostatic infection, 



