88 LOCALIZED INFECTIONS OF PUS NATURE 



stimulated to renewed activity by a congestion of the part 

 by any means. This peculiarity of hiding is the reason for 

 the fact that a person once affected by this disease remains 

 infective for others for a very long time. The bacteria reside 

 in the Bartholin's glands of the female or the posterior 

 urethra, Cowper's and prostatic glands of the male. At 

 present there is no perfectly reliable method by which to 

 ascertain the freedom from gonococci of a person once 

 affected. Late results of this disease are urethra! stricture, 

 chronic inflammation of any other genitals, such as salpingo- 

 oophoritis, requiring operative removal of the affected parts. 

 Either during its acute or chronic stage, the latter more 

 commonly, the gonococci may enter the blood stream and 

 affect tissues, other than the genitals, for which it has a 

 predilection, the serous surfaces, joints, heart lining, or 

 meninges. These conditions arising after such spreading 

 are very difficult to treat and not infrequently leave a per- 

 manent defect. 



The inflammations of the eyes, notably the conjunctiva, 

 produced by the gonococcus are very common, and one 

 authority says that half the world's blindness is due to it. 

 This complication is due to carrying of germs from the seat 

 of primary disease, on the fingers, handkerchiefs and the 

 like to the eye. The result is a frightful acute, purulent 

 conjunctivitis, running a long, acute course and leaving 

 opacities of the cornea or adhesions of the iris in many cases. 

 Destruction of the eye may result. Not only does this dis- 

 ease affect those with gonorrhea, but it may be transferred 

 to others by objects soiled with pus and remains infectious 

 so long as there are organisms to be found in the exudate. 

 The commonest transmission of gonorrheal ophthalmia, as it 

 is called, is to the newborn. This is ophthalmia neonatorum. 

 It is a common practice of obstetricians, especially in hos- 

 pitals, to instil a few drops of a weak nitrate of silver solution 

 (2 per cent.) into the eyes of the newborn, whether there 

 is or is not a history of gonorrhea in the mother. 



