Abstract
Because of the similarity of the pathological changes induced in the central nervous System by poliomyelitis and rabies viruses, and because of the well-known successful vaccination against rabies by means of the Pasteur method, I decided to carry out similar prolonged vaccination of monkeys against poliomyelitis virus, which was kindly furnished by Dr. Simon Flexner, and proved to be highly infectious for Macacus rhesus monkeys selected, through the courtesy of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, as proper animals for such observations. The Vaccine was prepared according to the Pasteur Vaccine technique, by Dr. Herbert Emerson of the University Pasteur Institute, and consisted of a 5% Suspension of emulsified cord tissue preserved in 0.7% phenol.
Monkeys were vaccinated subcutaneously by gradually increasing daily doses of Vaccine over periods of 28 to 29 days, beginning with 0.10 cc. to 0.3 cc. and ending with 3.5 cc. to 4 cc., which doses in some instances were reached by the seventeenth day and continued at that point for the remainder of the vaccination period. A proved paralyzing dose of Flexner virus was then inoculated into the center of the frontal lobe of the brain either soon after (24 hours) or late after (30 days) the last dose of Vaccine was given.
For example, one monkey (V. No. 2) inoculated 24 hours after the last dose of Vaccine, developed transient evidences of the disease 23 days after intracerebral inoculation. His gait suddenly became awkward, he was unable to hold a carrot in his hands and easily lost his balance. Six hours later he was apparently normal and the following morning very active and remained so. Another monkey was given a larger dose of the same proved potent virus 30 days after the last dose of Vaccine. No recognizable Symptoms developed during the course of 3 months. A characteristic protocol is given in Table I.
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