302 BA CTERIOL OGY. 



Jficrococcus intmcettularis of Weichselbaum, isolated 

 from the pus of cerebro-spinal meningitis, is micro- 

 scopically also strikingly like the gonococcus as it is 

 seen in pus ; but, unlike the latter organism, may be 

 cultivated by the ordinary methods. 



POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DISTINGUISHING PECU- 

 LIARITIES OF MICROCOCCUS GONORRHCE;E. Since gon- 

 orrhoeal discharges may be contaminated with pyogenic 

 cocci other than those causing the specific inflammation, 

 it is important in efforts to isolate this organism that 

 the differential tests be borne in mind and put into 

 practice. The gonococcus is differentiated from the 

 commoner pyogenic organisms by the following pecu- 

 liarities : 



First, it is practically always seen in the form of 

 diplococci, the pair of individual cells having the 

 appearance of two hemispheres, with the diameters 

 opposed, and separated from one another by a narrow, 

 colorless slit. (Is this the case with micrococcus aureus 

 or streptococcus pyogenes ?) 



Second, in gonorrhoeal pus it is practically always to 

 be found icithin the protoplasmic bodies of pus-cells. 

 (How does this compare with the conditions found in 

 ordinary pus ?) 



Third, it stains readily with the ordinary staining- 

 reagents, but loses its color when treated by the method of 

 Gram. (Treat a cover-slip from ordinary pus by this 

 method and note the result.) 



Fourth, it does not develop upon any of the ordinary 

 media used in the laboratory ; while the common pus- 

 organisms, with perhaps the exception of the strepto- 

 cocci, are vigorous growers and are not markedly fas- 

 tidious as to their nutritive medium. 



