DIPLOCOCCUS GONORRHCE^ 



383 



serum-nutrose medium of Wassermann ' may occasionally be used 

 witli success. 



Plates may also be made by smearing for enrichment a drop of blood 

 from the finger over the surface of agar in the manner of Pfeiffer's 

 method for influenza-bacillus cultivation. Inoculations from gonorrheal 

 material are best made by surface smearing upon plates, since the 

 gonococcus grows best in the presence of free oxygen. Growth is more 

 easily obtained and becomes more luxuriant after prolonged culti- 



Fig. 82. — Gonococcus Colony. 



Low power of magnification, 

 and Wright.) 



(After Mallory 



vation upon artificial media. The most favorable reaction of media is 

 neutrality or slight acidity. 



Whenever the gonococcus has been successfully cultivated from pus 

 upon media without serum additions, the success has probably been due 

 to the substances carried over in the pus. 



The gonococcus will develop a sparse growth under anaerobic con- 

 ditions, but displays a very marked preference for aerobiosis. The op- 

 timum temperature for growth is 37.5° C. Growth ceases above 38.5° 

 and below 30°. 



^Wassermann, Berl. klin. Woch., 1897. 



(Fifteen c.c. swine-serum, 35 c.c. of water, 3 e.c. glycerin, with two per cent 

 nutrose. The nutrose is dissolved by boiling and the solution sterilized. This is then 

 added to agar, in equal parts, and used in plates.) 



