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MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY. 



usually found attached to the epithehal cells or inside of the 

 pus-cells; they are also found in smaller numbers floating free 

 in the fluid. They stain with ordinary aniline dyes, for ex- 

 ample, LofHer's methylene-blue, but not by Gram's method. 

 The fact (i) that the cocci always occur inside of the pus- 

 cells, (2) that they are in pairs of biscuit-shaped micrococci, 

 (3) that they are not stained by Gram's method, will serve 

 to distinguish the gonococcus from all the other ordinary 



Fig. 6g. — GoNococci and Pus-cells'; (X 1000.) 



pus-forming bacteria. There are other diplococci (pseudo- 

 gonococci), probably non-pathogenic, which have been found 

 occasionally in the vulvo-vaginal tract and in the urethra, 

 which, it is said, are also decolorized by Gram's method. Such 

 organisms are not likely to present all the points mentioned as 

 characteristic of the gonococcus. The recognition of the gono- 

 coccus in the discharges of a case of acute gonorrhea is usually 

 an easy matter. It must be admitted, however, that in cases 

 having chronic discharges, when its detection is most to be 



