Experimental Fever Therapy in Myxomatosis and Fibroma of Rabbits. ∗

Abstract

We have recently attempted to test the effect of induced fever on the development of myxomatosis and fibroma in rabbits. There are a large number of fever machines 1 in use in clinics and in offices of practicing physicians, and the subject of fever therapy in various pathological conditions is growing rapidly in importance. In some of these, notably in the acute pelvic inflammation due to Neisseria gonorrhea the treatment has proved its efficiency and worth. In other conditions fever therapy is employed experimentally, or empirically, as in the case of arthritis. Clinical results are good, bad, and indifferent, depending upon the individual patient and his disease. While this type of therapy has been directed for the most part toward bacterial inflammatory conditions, little has been done with the virus diseases. The authors, therefore, have attempted to set up crucial experiments with the viruses of myxomatosis and fibroma in order to determine if induced fever would affect these virus processes in any way.

In the first place, we selected the Inductotherm apparatus manufactured by the General Electric X-Ray Corporation 2 , 3 as one suitable for working with small animals such as rabbits, and for convenience in the laboratory. The principle of this apparatus is that of electromagnetic induction, with vacuum tube oscillator which generates an alternating current of 12,000,000 cycles per second. Such a device produces heat in electrolytes in direct proportion to the electrical conductivity of such electrolytes and should produce heat in living tissue in proportion to the vascularity of the tissue.

In testing this heating apparatus on normal rabbits, we found that the animals withstood rather prolonged heating if gradually accustomed to it, but rapid heating for even 10 to 20 minutes frequently killed the animals.