174 ESSENTIALS OF BACTERIOLOGY 



CHAPTER XXIV 

 GONOCOCCUS. MENINGOCOCCUS 



Micrococcus Gonorrhceae (Gonococciis Neisser). In 



1879 Neisser demonstrated the presence of this germ in the 

 secretion of specific urethritis. 



Form. Cocci, somewhat triangular in form, found nearly 



always in pairs, the base of one coccus facing the base of the 



other and giving the appearance of a Vienna roll, hence the 



German name, Semmel (roll), form. Four to twelve such 



pairs are often found together. Immotile 



(Fig. 86). In pus usually within the cells. 



Culture. No growth on ordinary media ; 



f lt : on blood-serum or agar smeared with 



f u blood, cultures have been obtained. The 



temperature must be between 33 and 37 



C., and the growth occurs very slow T ly and 



sparsely. 



Wertheim's medium (q. v., p. 78) has 



Fig. 85. g j ven t h e b est results. 

 Gonococci in gon- 3 



orrheal pus. Ani- Loionies. Extremely delicate, translu- 

 lin .methyl-violet cent spots, separate, and of a slimy con- 

 sistence, appearing in one to two days. 



Resistance. The cultures live only a 

 few days at room temperature, but in the ice-chest they last 

 longer. A temperature of 45 C. destroys the gonococci and 

 it is but slightly resistant to the ordinary chemic antiseptics. 



From the Blood. In septicemic cases the gonococcus has 

 been isolated from the blood direct by drawing 5 to 10 c.c. 

 from a vein and adding it in equal parts of melted agar. 

 The mixture is poured into Petri dishes and developed in the 

 incubator at 37 C. 



Staining. Colored easily with all ordinary anilin stains. 



Gram negative is one of its main diagnostic features. 



