Accepting the gonococcus as the most definite etiological factor that has thus far been determined in virulent urethritis, it becomes necessary to consider its characteristics. During the last quarter of a century several authors have claimed to have discovered the germ or organism upon which the disease depends, but none of their views has been generally accepted by the profession. The latest aspirant to honors in the microscopical study of urethritis is Neisser, of Breslau, who in 1879 asserted that he had discovered the specific' microbe of gonorrhoea, which he termed the gonococcus. Numerous European bacteriologists published confirmatory reports regarding this micro-organism, and during the last few years several American investigators have indorsed the views of Neisser. At the present time the majority of the profession have accepted the specificity of the gonococcus. The alleged specific germ has been found in the pus corpuscles. Its detection under the microscope was first made pos sible by certain complicated processes of staining. A little later, Drs. Wendt and Allen, of New York City, detected the bacillus in the following rather simple manner : A drop of pus is spread into a thin layer by pressing between two glass slides, and allowed to dry in the air. A drop of solution of methyl blue in anilin water is now placed upon it for a moment and washed off with a stream from a wash-bottle. A few drops of Grams' iodo-iodide liquid is then poured on and allowed to remain for several minutes ; this fixes the color of micro-organisms in general. Grams' liquid is now washed off, and, while the specimen is still wet, a cover-glass is placed upon it and it is examined with an oil immersion lens. If micro-organisms resembling the gonococcus are found, they are tested by decoloriza tion. The cover-glass is removed, and the specimen treated with absolute alcohol until the color is as completely removed as possible. The cover-glass is replaced, and the specimen examined, when all the gonococci will be found to have disappeared; all other organisms, however, which have been present will be distinctly visible.
The gonococcus, as described by Neisser, was developed from the pus corpuscle by staining with methyl-violet and dahlia. It is located generally upon the surface of the pus-corpuscle; more rarely upon the surface of the epithelium. Sometimes it is incorporated with the corpuscle and replaces its nucleus, which disappears. The microbe is large and spherical when single; in some instances two of them unite together in a sort of biscuit-shape. They are usually found in colonies of ten to twenty or more, surrounded by a kind of mucous envelopment.
For practical purposes the simpler methods of examination of suspected fluids are best. A drop of pus, placed upon a cover-glass, may be spread into a thin layer by placing another glass upon it and sliding the two apart. One of the glasses is then thoroughly dried by passing it rapidly through the flame of a spirit-lamp. The cover glass is now dipped in a solution of methyl blue, and the superfluous coloring matter washed off by a stream of cold water. It should now be mounted in Canada balsam. Neisser has more recently laid es pecial stress upon the tendency of the gonococci to arrange them selves in pairs. This, he claims, distinguishes them from the ure thrococci, which are found singly or in irregular clumps. He also says that the gonococci are found in or upon the pus corpuscle, never outside of it. One important source of fallacy at once suggests itself. It is by no means improbable that the urethrococcus may undergo modification by virtue of the existence of a virulent inflammatory process, as a consequence of which it tends to arrange itself some what differently and to invade the pus corpuscles. This is certainly consistent with the evolutionary theory. Taken singly, the urethro coccus and gonococcus are identical in appearance.