Abstract
Duran-Reynals 1 and others have shown that extracts from certain organs such as testicle greatly enhance the invasion of tissue by various bacteria and viruses. This can be demonstrated by injecting into the shaved skin of a rabbit a living suspension of pathogenic bacteria mixed with the organ extract to be tested: and at another site an equal number of bacteria in plain broth or saline. After 24 hours a comparison of the size of the lesions and the relative degree of necrosis furnishes an index of the enhancing role of the tissue extract.
We have investigated a similar effect exerted by secretions from the upper respiratory tract. In most of our experiments we have employed a virulent strain of B. lepisepticum (R. D.) as this organism is quite pathogenic for rabbits and produces a slowly progressing cutaneous lesion which has become familiar to us from previous experiments. The experimental material was obtained by irrigating with plain broth the nasal passages of various individuals both normal and those suffering from acute colds. This material was passed through Berkefeld or Seitz filters and tested aerobically for sterility. This was then concentrated by distillation in vacuo to approximately one-fifth the original value and preserved in the icebox with cystein 0.25% under vaseline seal. In other cases, fresh material was used without concentration. As control some of the broth was treated in an identical manner. In most of our experiments .2 cc. of the washings were mixed with .1 cc. fresh, thin saline emulsion of B. lepisepticum and .2 cc. of this mixture injected into one flank of a rabbit while in the opposite side an identical preparation of organisms and control broth was injected.
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