4x8 



Catarrhal Inflammation 



capsules of the latter are distinct. It is also readily taken up by 

 the leukocytes, and may so resemble the gonococcus; and it is not 

 always easy, perhaps not always possible, to distinguish it from 

 the Diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis. 



Morphology. — ^The organism is spheric or slightly ovoid. It may 

 occur singly, though it usually appears in pairs or clusters. Large 

 numbers are enclosed in the leukocytes or other cells. The spheric 

 organisms have a diameter of about i ii; the ovoid organisms may 

 measure as much as 1.5 by 2 fi. The relation of the cocci to the 

 cells seems to have something to do with the course of the inflam- 

 matory conditions with which they are asso- 

 ciated. During the activity of the process 

 large numbers of the cocci may be free; toward 

 its close they may all be enclosed in the 

 leukocytes. 



The organisms are not motile, have no 

 flagella and do not form spores. 



Staining. — The cocci stain by ordinary meth- 

 ods, but not by Gram's method. 



Cultivation. — The organism can be easily 

 cultivated, both in the incubator and at room 

 temperature, and thus differentiates itself 

 from the fastidious gonococcus. The colonies 

 are large, white, irregular in outline, elevated 

 at the center, not viscid, and grow readily 

 at room temperatures upon all the culture- 

 media, the. best upon blood agar -agar. The 

 vitality of the organism in culture is not great. 

 Very often transplantation made after from 

 four to six days fail to grow; and in the cul- 

 tures one usually finds many deeply staining, 

 supposedly living cocci, and many poorly stain- 

 ing, supposedly dead organisms. 



Agar-Agar.— The culture in general re- 

 sembles that of Staphylococcus albus. When 

 blood is added to the agar-agar, the growth is 

 more luxuriant, whitish, and usually consists of closely approxi- 

 mated colonies which do not become confluent. 

 Gelatin. — This medium is not Uquefied. 



Bouillon. — At the end of the first day no growth seems to have 

 taken place, but at the end of the second day there is a slight cloud- 

 ing and a meager precipitate. The organism seems to maintain 

 its vitality somewhat longer in bouillon than in other culture- 

 media. 



Metabolic Products. — ^No enzymes, no acids, no gases and no toxic 

 products are known to be formed. Blood corpuscles in the media 

 are not hemolyzed. 



Fig. 142. — Micrococ- 

 cus catarrhalis colonies 

 on agar (F. T. Lord; 

 photo byL. S. Brown). 



