636 THE GONOCOCCUS 



varies from 0'6-0'8/x. The two cocci have their concave faces adjacent : 

 sometimes they are found grouped in staphylococcal masses but never in 

 chains. In cultures the cocci are rounded or oval and very unequal in size. 

 The two elements of the diplococcus are held together by a mucous matrix 

 analogous to the capsule of the pneumococcus but very difficult to demonstrate. 

 It can be stained in old cultures with carbol-fuchsin. 



FIG. 300. Gonococcus in pus from the urethra. Jenner's stain. (Oc. 2, 

 obj. ,Mfc, Zeiss.) 



In cultures the gonococcus shows movements both of oscillation and of 

 translation (Eraud and Hugounenq). 



In gonqrrhoeal pus, the gonococci are sometimes free but more often situated 

 within pus or epithelial cells. This intra-cellular position is one of the 

 important morphological characteristics of the organism. 



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FIG. 301. Gonocoecus in pus from the urethra. Pappenheim's stain. (Oc. 2, 

 obj. ,'.th, Zeiss.) 



In pus from the urethra the gonococcus is found in pure culture during the first 

 few days. In the early stages the organisms are few in number and are found 

 almost entirely within the polymorpho-nuclear leucocytes : numbers of epithelial 



