Abstract
The introduction of an antigen into the body by applying it upon some surface area has received considerable attention since Besredka's work upon this subject. We wish to report the results obtained so far upon the application of an antigenic substance upon the vaginal mucosa and the demonstrable antibody titer in the blood serum following the contact of the antigen with this body surface. The application of the antigenic substance upon the intestinal mucosa in the light of our previous observations is now being attempted. 1 , 2
B. typhosus broth cultures were lysed by phage and passed through the Berkefeld filter. The vaginal mucosa was exposed with aid of a speculum and 1 cc. of the sterile B. typhosus proteins sprayed upon the wall of the vagina. Blood was obtained before and each week for 3 weeks after the one application of 1 cc. of the antigen.
Ninety-eight cases have been followed through the period of observation. Of these, 75 or 76.5% showed the presence of agglutinins after 3 weeks, 23 or 23.5% were negative. Table I shows the average titer of agglutinins in the 75 positive cases. A group of 40 of the 98 cases were tested each week for 3 weeks. After 7 days 63% showed positive agglutination, 14 days, 72%, and after 21 days 80%. The agglutination titer remains constant for at least 6 weeks. Further work is in progress upon the antigenic absorption in pregnant women. The work upon the oral administration of antigens has not been completed.
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