PATHOGENIC BACTERIA AND DISEASES 43 



fection. The germs are found in large numbers in the 

 spleen of infected animals. In man it causes a chronic 

 remittent fever, with pains in the joints and profuse 

 sweating. The agglutination test is positive and is 

 used as a means of diagnosis. 



Micrococcus Gonorrhoeas (Gonococcus of Neisser). 

 A flattened coccus occurring in pairs. 



Source of Infection. Gonorrheal pus. It is usually 

 acquired through sexual intercourse, though contact 

 with the pus in any manner will infect mucous membrane. 

 It causes purulent inflammation of the urethra, vagina, 

 uterine adenexa, conjunctivitis, ophthalmia neonatorum, 

 or conjunctivitis of the newborn. Here the germ comes 

 in contact with the eyes of the child during its descent 

 through the birth-canal, which is the seat of gonorrhea. 



It is also the cause of arthritis or gonorrheal rheu- 

 matism and endocarditis; 30 per cent, of the blind- 

 ness in the United States is considered to be due to 

 this cause. 



Preventive measures include disinfection of discharges 

 and hands. Sexual abstinance. In the newborn, where 

 gonorrhea of the mother is suspected, Credos method 

 should be employed. This consists of the instillation of 

 2 per cent, solution of silver nitrate immediately, neu- 

 tralized with salt solution. Protargol may be used in 

 place of the silver nitrate. Opsonic therapy has recently 

 been used with success in the treatment of this disorder, 

 and vaccines are now on the market. 



