COCCUS OF MENINGITIS 133 



This organism is the cause of cerebro-spinal meningitis. 



Morphology and Stains. Resembles the gonococcus closely, 

 because it grows in biscuit shaped pairs; is nearly always within pus 

 cells, and like the gonococcus it is decolorized by Gram's stain. 



FIG. 40. Meningococcus in spinal fluid. (From Hiss and Zinsser's Bacteri- 

 ology, Copyright by D. Appleton & Co.) 



In reality it is a micrococcus, because it divides in two planes. 

 It has no spores or flagella; is not motile; grows in short chains at 

 times, and on ordinary media best at 37 C. It is Gram negative. 



Relation to Oxygen. It is an obligate aerobe. 



Vital Resistance. It is killed after 10 minutes' exposure to 65 

 C. and is easily destroyed by drying, and by light. It dies out 

 rapidly on artificial culture media. 



