In previous papers* the main features of gonococcal structure as seen under the electron microscope were described. The study of gonococci taken from a culture on artificial medium is undoubtedly of importance, since it gives an idea of the structure of the pathogen outside the patient's organism and unaffected by exposure to the body's protective forces. However, study of gonococci from pus taken from patients with gonorrhoea is of considerably greater interest, since it is possible to observe the inter-relationships between the body's cells and the gonococci. The

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The development of electron microscopy has advanced our knowledge of the morphology of Treponema pallidum, but the exact significance of some of the formations observed is not yet clear and requires further detailed study by chemists as well as morphologists. The literature has been reviewed and our methods described in previous reports (Ovcinnikov and Delektorskij, 1968, 1969, 1970a. In this paper we shall limit ourselves to a description of our most recent results.The classic spiral shape of T. pallidum, with coils of regular width and depth slightly narrower towards the acuminate ends, is to be considered as typical for this organism.We shall not reproduce here the illustrations already published in various periodicals; the photographs illustrating the present study have not previously been published.Examination of preparations processed by the negative contrast method with a magnification X6-8000 has confirmed the fact that the thickness of the treponeme is uneven along its length, as established previously in light microscopic studies on living specimens. It has been proved that the thickness changes as the treponeme moves; this clearly shows that the body of T. pallidum is able to contract and, consequently, has a special apparatus for this purpose.With greater magnification it can be seen that in young cultures the body of the treponeme is covered by a transparent mass forming a wide mucoid sheath (Ovcinnikov and Delektorskij, 1969). In older cultures this sheath cannot be demonstrated, and the question of its origin (i.e. whether it is a product of the treponeme or derives from the host tissues) should be studied in relation to the specific localization of the organism and the conditions of its existence.Bearing in mind certain differences in the structure of cultivated and pathogenic treponemes, we shall

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