224 



GONORRHCEA, SOFT SORE, SYPHILIS. 



leucocytes is a very striking feature. In the leucocytes they 

 lie within the protoplasm, especially superficially, and are often 

 so numerous that the leucocytes appear to be filled with them, 

 and their nuclei are obscured. As the disease becomes more 

 chronic, the gonococci gradually become diminished in number, 

 though even in long-standing cases they may still be found in 

 considerable numbers. They are also present in the purulent 

 secretion of gonorrhceal conjunctivitis, also in various parts of 

 the female genital organs when these parts are the seat of true 

 gonorrhceal infection, and they have been found in some cases 



in the secondary infections 

 of the joints in the disease, 

 as will be described below. 



Staining. — The gonococ- 

 cus stains readily and deeply 

 with a watery solution of any 

 of the basic aniline dyes — - 

 methylene-blue, fuchsin, etc. 

 It is, however, easily decol- 

 orised, and it completely 

 loses the stain by Gram's 

 method — an important point 

 in the microscopical examina- 

 tion. 



Cultivation of the Gonococ- 

 cus. — This is attended with 

 some difficulty, as the suitable media and conditions of growth 

 are somewhat restricted. The most suitable media are solidified 

 blood serum (especially human serum and rabbit's serum), 

 blood agar, and Wertheim's medium, which consists of one 

 part of fluid serum added to two parts of liquefied agar at a 

 temperature of 45° C. and then allowed to solidify by coohng. 

 The serum may be obtained from the blood of the human pla- 

 centa ; pleuritic, hydrocele, or other effusion may also be used. 

 Growth takes place best at the temperature of the body, and 

 ceases altogether at 25° C. Cultures are obtained by taking 

 some pus on the loop of the platinum needle and inoculating 

 one of the media mentioned by leaving minute quantities here 

 and there on the surface. The medium may be used either as 

 ordinary "sloped tubes" or as a thin layer in a Petri's dish. 



Fig. 85. — Portion of film of gonorrhceal 

 pus, showing the characteristic arrangement of 

 the gonococci within leucocytes. 



Stained with fuchsin. X looo. 



