CHAPTER II. 



SUPPURATION (Continued). 



Micrococcus Gonorrhoeae. 



NEISSER, in 1879, observed an organism in the purulent 

 discharge of gonorrhoea and purulent ophthalmia which he 

 named the gonococcus. It was not cultivated and studied in 

 pure culture, however, until 1885. It is seen in pairs, a 

 diplococcus ; although occasionally it forms tetrads, probably 

 just after division of the diplococcus. The approximated 

 surfaces of the cocci are slightly concave or flat, and almost 

 touch, giving the organism a rather characteristic appearance, 

 from which it has been dubbed the " biscuit coccus," or, as 

 the Germans say, " semmel-kokken." 



Biology and morphology : The gonococcus measures from 

 0.8 p. to 1.6 [J. in length, and from 0.6 // to 0.8 // in breadth. 

 It is not flagellated ; nor is it motile ; and it reproduces 

 itself by binary division. It has never be^en seen to form 

 spores. It is stained readily by all the anilin dyes (Fig. 73), 

 but is promptly decolorized by Gram's stain. This is a very 

 important point in the differentiation of the gonococcus from 

 the pneumococcus and meningococcus. Methylene-blue is the 

 best stain for specimens made directly from the purulent dis- 

 charge. Eosin may be used as a contrast-stain. It is a fac- 

 ultative anaerobe. 



It is very difficult to grow the gonococcus artificially. The 

 temperature must be that of the body, 37 C., and even then 

 the growth develops very slowly and sparsely. Except for 

 experimental purposes, it is not necessary to make cultures of 

 the gonococcus, as it is easily recognized (Fig. 74) in stained 

 specimens mounted directly from the discharges of a gonor- 

 rhceal inflammation. 



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