SPECIAL BACTERIOLOGY 
139 
salts, which fact explains the universal use of the various 
silver preparations in the treatment of this disease. 
V. Disease Production, Mode of Infection, Disinfec¬ 
tion and Prophylaxis 
At first the inflammation caused by gonococcus is 
strictly local (urethritis, inflammation of urethra), some¬ 
times, if the discharge is carried to the nose or eye, the 
Fig. 26.—The gonococcus. Smear of gonorrhea pus. x 1500. (Hewlett— 
Manual of Bacteriology.) 
inflammation is produced in these parts. Gonorrhea is 
always produced by contact. 
After the acute stage, gonococci frequently cause 
rheumatism, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of 
the heart), and valvular heart disease. Babies born of 
mothers affected by gonorrhea, if not properly taken care 
of, develop blindness (gonorrheal ophthalmia of the new¬ 
born) ; it is, therefore, almost compulsory now to put 
one or two drops of a 2 per cent solution of silver nitrate 
into baby’s eyes at birth, and this simple prevention 
