MICROCOCCUS GONOBBRai.E. 165 



tive review of the literature by Foulestoii, "Transact, of the Inst, of 

 Prev. Med.," Vol. i, 1898. 



Microscopic Appearance. — They usually occur as 

 pairs of organisms, somewhat kidney-shaped, united by a 

 lenticular cement material which is often quite broad. A 

 pair is 0.8 /x to 1.6 m long, and 0.6 fi to 0.8 n broad 

 (10, X). 



Staining Properties. — By the usual staining methods, 

 best with LofHer's methylene-blue. It is not stained 

 by Gram's method, which is very important, as it differs 

 in this from almost all cocci. Recently many authors 

 have claimed that gonococci at times stain by Gram's 

 method. Weinrich (C. B. xxiv, 268), who discusses the 

 entire literature, maintains that prompt decolorization is 

 always obtained if the preparations which are stained 

 with anilin- or carbol-gentian violet solution are brought 

 directly into Lugol's solution without washing with water 

 and then into truly absolute alcohol. If one desires a con- 

 trast color in the cells, a weak aqueous solution of 

 Bismarck brown is employed after the cover-glass has 

 been brought from the absolute alcohol to water. 



Relation to Oxygen. — Facultative anaerobe. 



Requirements as Regards Temperature and Nutri- 

 ent Media. — Grows only at incubator temperature, best 

 at 36°. The extremes are from 25° to 39°. Growth on 

 all nutrient media very slight, and frequent transfer 

 is necessary to keep it alive. It is one of the most 

 difficult varieties to keep permanently in culture. It is 

 remarkable that cultures die at room temperature in forty- 

 eight hours. 



The growth of gonococci upon the ordinary nutrient 

 media is not to be undertaken. ^ Smears are to be made 

 upon one of the following nutrient media (3, 4, and 5 may 

 also be used for plates) : 



1. Ordinary nutrient agar, smeared over with human blood (from 

 the sterilized finger-tip of the investigator, Abel ) . To be recommended 

 as the simplest method. 



2. Human blood-serum (from placenta or obtained by venesec- 



' The statements of Turro regarding the cultivation of the gonococ- 

 cus upon acid gelatin, the successful inoculation in the dog, and the 

 liquefaction of alkaline gelatin could be verified by no one. 



