88 LOCALIZED INFECTIONS OF PUS NATURE 



transmitted by water-closet seats and directly from 

 child to child. It may be spread by bedclothes, towels, 

 clothing, basins, bed-pans, and in other ways. Children 

 have been known to contract the affection by sleeping 

 with some one with gonorrhea. Efforts to eradicate 

 this vulvovaginitis should be directed toward removing 

 the source. This is sometimes impossible, since it 

 cannot always be found. It is much better to insti- 

 tute a strict quarantine of every little girl admitted to 

 a ward by using separate bed and body clothing and 

 utensils. She should be examined by the house physician 

 upon admission, and if necessary, proper bacteriologi- 

 cal examinations made. If affected, such objects 

 that are used on her as can be burned should be so 

 disposed of. Others should be soaked in carbolic 

 acid solution for at least twenty-four hours. It is 

 the practice in many places to place on all female 

 children a T-binder, which is burned upon removal. 

 Patients must not be allowed to go to the water-closet, 

 but a bed-pan used, to be later disinfected by appro- 

 priate solutions. Flaming objects such as a bed-pan 

 is an excellent method of disinfection. The curious 

 part about the transmission of vulvovaginitis is that 

 its causative agent, presumably always the gonococcus, 

 is either in a highly resistant state, or it is protected 

 in some manner, since agencies, such as drying, that 

 will kill the bacterium under ordinary conditions 

 seem to have little or no effect upon it. 



The gonococcus was first described by Neisser in 

 1879. It is classified, and correctly, among the round 

 organisms or cocci, although it is usually seen in pairs 

 like two kidney beans with their concave sides together. 



