Infections of the immature vagina present a social and medical problem of considerable magnitude, especially in hospitals and asylums for children. Despite the available diagnostic procedures, it is often most difficult to differentiate the transmissible (gonococcic) from the nonspecific form of vulvovaginitis. It therefore becomes imperative to isolate at considerable cost and inconvenience every institutional case of vulvovaginitis. The occurrence of gonococcic vulvovaginitis in the home of a family presents no less a problem in preventing the spread of the infection to young sisters and schoolmates. In many instances the condition remains unrecognized until two or more members of a family are affected. Although serious complications such as arthritis, salpingitis and ophthalmia are relatively infrequent, unless the gonococcus assumes an unusual virulence in passing through one or more susceptible hosts even the mild form of the infection leaves its imprint on the psyche of the affected child. The persistence of