MICROCOCCUS GONORRHEA 95 



MICROCOCCUS GONORRHEA. 



Gonorrhea is an acute inflammatory and pus-forming 

 disease with its chief manifestations in the mucous 

 membrane of the urethra. It is caused by the Micro- 

 coccus gonorrhea or gonococcus, which enters the 

 mucous membrane directly wherever there is a slight, 

 even invisible, abrasion. This disease is one of the 

 venereal affections, and is probably one of the most 

 prevalent of all diseases. In the male its acute stage 

 lasts for three to six weeks, while in the female it may 

 be transient or pursue a very long course. In both 

 sexes it tends to infect the other genital organs, and is 

 probably the chief cause of salpingitis and oophoritis. 

 In later stages when all bacteria have not been removed 

 by a perfect cure, the germs penetrate to the deep parts 

 of the mucous membrane of the external urinary 

 channel, and there rest for long periods apparently 

 undestroyed by the protective forces of the body, and 

 without setting up any change by which their presence 

 can be detected. They may be 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 gono- 

 cocci of a person once affected. Late results of this 

 disease are urethral stricture, chronic inflammation 

 of any other genitals, such as salpingo-oophoritis, requir- 



