On Variations of the Meningococcus and its Differentiation from Other Cocci Occurring in the Cerebro-Spinal Fluid

Abstract

Weichselbaum (1887) first described his Diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis (meningococcus) as having been cultivated within a few hours after death from the brain or meninges of six cases of acute cerebro-spinal meningitis. These cases occurred during the years 1885—1887 at Vienna, when no regular epidemic existed. Cases had however occurred from time to time, and there was an epidemic in part of Lower Austria in 1886. The youngest case was 14 years old. He described the micrococcus as being of a wide gonococcus-like shape, occurring in pairs or fours, not in chains, negative to Gram's stain. It failed to grow at 20° C., but grew well on agar at 37° C. almost exclusively on the surface. The growth was viscid, the colonies were often confluent and appeared finely granular when slightly magnified. The organisms required sub-culture every few days to ensure success, were easily killed by drying, and showed very little growth in broth.