THE MICROBES OF 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 
gonorrheal origin. However this may be, the 
micrococci of purulent ophthalmia resemble those of 
gonorrhcea, and the same treatment is applicable. 
The solution of nitrate of silver in a diluted form, 
generally employed in matcrnity hospitals, as a pre- 
Fig. 94,—Cells of gonorrheeal pus 24 hours after its discharge. Within may be seen 
several forms of 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 of this metal is revealed 
by analysis; it approximates in its nature to that of 
Micrococcus prodigiosus. It may be cultivated in 
