THE MICROBES OP HUMAN DISEASES. 231 



The same micrococcus, or, at any rate, a microbe 

 which cannot be distinguished from it, is often found 

 in the purulent ophthalmia of new-born infants. It 

 is difficult to admit, even when we make allowance 

 for the great susceptibility of an infant's eyes at the 

 moment of birth, that such ophthalmia is always of 

 gonorrhoeal origin. However this may be, the 

 micrococci of purulent ophthalmia resemble those of 

 gonorrhoea, and the same treatment is applicable. 

 The solution of nitrate of silver in a diluted form, 

 generally employed in maternity hospitals, as a pre- 



Fig. 94. Cells of gonorrhoeal pus 2* hours after its discharge. Within may be seen 

 several forms ol fission of their nuclei, and micrococci moving in the protoplasm 

 (X 600 diam.). 



ventive treatment of infant ophthalmia, has con- 

 siderably reduced the intensity of this disease 



The red, malodorous sweat of the armpits is due 

 to the presence of a microbe, which is found free in 

 the sweat, or massed in the form of a zoogloea, and 

 adherent to the hair of the skin. The red colour is 

 not due to iron, for no trace ofi this metal is revealed 

 by analysis ; it approximates in its nature to that of 

 Micrococcus prodigiosm. It may be cultivated in 



