588 MICROBIOLOGY OF THE DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS. 



dormant or at least very slightly active in chronic conditions in one in- 

 dividual but set up an acute gonorrhoea when transferred to a second 

 person. 



The organism gains entrance to the urethral mucosa or conjunctiva 

 usually by direct contact and it is doubtful if the disease could be carried 

 by any infected article later than twenty-four hours. 



The organism is found at the local lesion and has been obtained 

 from the fluid of affected joints, and from the blood in the septicaemic 

 cases. 



A general immunity is seldom if ever developed in man following an 

 attack of gonorrhoea. A complement-binding antibody has been dem- 

 onstrated but not constantly. . 



Injections of cultures into animals give rise to agglutinin, bactericidal 

 and complement-binding bodies. * 



The diplococcus is eliminated only in the purulent discharge . 



Great importance attaches to the fact that persons may harbor the 

 Gonococcus long after the acute condition has disappeared and when the 

 coccus seems to be no longer harmful to its host. Such cases bring about 

 untold misery and form one of the most difficult problems in both medical 

 and social science. It has been stated that Gonococci have been found as 

 late as twenty years after the primary infection. 



The most extended and successful measures have been carried out 

 in the armies and navies of various countries by the use of germicidal 

 solutions whenever there has been any chance of exposure to infection. 



INFECTIOUS MASTITIS.* 



Infectious mastitis or mammitis (inflammation of the udder) appears 

 in isolated outbreaks and is serious for the individual owner and individual 

 herd, but it never spreads widely. It may affect a large portion of the herd 

 and cause heavy financial losses. Infectious mastitis may have serious 

 significance for children and others consuming milk; but there is little 

 information on this point, based on careful work. 



This is to be considered as an infectious, enzootic disease and probably 

 not specific. There is good reason to suppose that different outbreaks 

 have been due to several different pyogenic or pus-producing 

 organisms. 



* Prepared by M. H. Reynolds. 



