Abstract
The interesting results obtained with radiothermy in experimental syphilis by Carpenter and Boak 1 have been further extended to the treatment of general paralysis by Hinsie and Carpenter. 2 These investigations suggested the possible application of radiothermy to the treatment of experimental virus diseases in animals. Jungeblut and Kopeloff 3 inoculated monkeys with poliomyelitis virus but failed to protect the animals with radiothermy by 5 days treatment for 1 1/2 hours, which resulted in a rectal temperature of 106° to 107°F.
In the foregoing investigation an attempt was made to study the influence of radiothermy on experimental herpes encephalitis in rabbits. Through the kindness of Dr. W. R. Whitney of the General Electric Company who very generously placed a radiotherm at our disposal and with the assistance of Miss K. King we were able to continue these efforts.
The first rabbit was injected in the foramen magnum with 0.2 cc. of supernatant fluid from a 1:20 suspension of a 3-4 day herpes virus (El-1'Perdrau) rabbit brain. This animal was placed in the radiotherm for about 1 1/2 hours on 3 successive days attaining an average rectal temperature of 106-107°F. The control rabbit died with typical symptoms in 4 days. The treated rabbit died 24 hours later. Two rabbits were similarly inoculated with the “Frank” 7day herpes virus. When treated by radiotherm their rectal temperatures reached 110. and both animals died during the night in consequence of overheating.
Two more rabbits were again inoculated with the “Frank” 7 day virus and these received 7 hours of radiothermy daily for 6 successive days. The average rectal temperature was 108°F. One rabbit reached a temperature of 110.2°F. and died, the other died with typical symptoms 7 days after inoculation as did the 2 control animals similarly inoculated.
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