SPECIAL FORMS OF CONJUNCTIVAL INFECTION 215 



Marthen's results would not, however, negative the view that all 

 Gram-negative Diplococci found on the conjunctiva are Gonococci. 



Along with Krukenberg, I have more exactly studied a number 

 of Pseudo-gonococci, which were perfectly Gram - negative and 

 still not identical with the Gonococcus. Since paying special atten- 

 tion to this point, I have not infrequently found on the normal or 

 slightly catarrhal conjunctiva Gram-negative organisms which from 

 their cultures I could not consider to be Gonococci. Kayser has lately 

 recorded a similar finding in my clinic. The sketches (Plate II. , 

 Fig. ///.) are made from such cases, and one of them (b) shows 

 a Gram-negative Sarcina. On the grounds of these facts, I hold that 

 the opinion of Schantz that all the Gram-negative Diplococci are 

 identical is entirely unproved. Dr. Brons has carried out a further 

 research on this subject in my laboratory ; his investigations related 

 to eight different strains of Micrococcus catarrhalis obtained from the 

 conjunctiva, and included a searching inquiry into the relations of 

 this organism to the Meningococcus and the Gonococcus, using all the 

 latest means of research, with the result that, according to our present 

 knowledge, the Gonococcus, the Meningococcus, and the Micrococcus 

 catarrhalis are all members of the same family. 



The first of our Diplococci was obtained from a slight, spontaneously 

 healing conjunctivitis. In the secretion it resembled the Gonococcus 

 exactly, but it grew freely on coagulated bullock's blood serum, 

 and showed considerably more resistance than the Gonococcus had 

 been considered to possess; further, it was an obligate aerobe, had 

 a considerable pathogenicity for animals, and when inoculated in 

 considerable quantity on Krukenberg's own conjunctiva, produced no 

 reaction. This organism would still be considered by Morax as a true 

 Gonococcus, as it could be included within the limits of the variability 

 of this organism as determined by his latest researches. Such, how- 

 ever, is quite impossible with the four further strains of Gram-negative 

 Diplococci which we found later ; they grew freely on agar, peptone 

 agar, and coagulated bullock's blood serum, even at room tempera- 

 tures (15 C. two even at 13 C.) ; one also grew on potatoes. 



A confirmatory record is supplied by Neumann and Abelsdorff, who 

 in the secretion of three cases of post-operative conjunctivitis after 

 cataract found Gram-negative Diplococci, which could only be dis- 

 tinguished from those of Krukenberg in that their agar colonies took 

 on a white colour later. 



