Abstract
The following experiments were undertaken in an attempt to duplicate the results obtained by Berry and Dedrick, 1 who reported the transformation of fibroma-virus into that of infectious myxoma. The method of procedure followed throughout the experiments was identical with that of the original investigators 2 and consisted in inoculating domestic rabbits with a mixture of active fibroma-virus and heat-inactivated myxoma-virus.
The suspensions of viruses were prepared by grinding 10 to 20 g of virus-bearing tissue with alundum and 100 cc of Locke's solution. Five to 10 minutes before use, the suspension was centrifuged at about 1000rpm. Ten cc ampoules were filled completely with the suspension of myxoma-tissue, sealed in flame, and immersed for a total period of 35 minutes in waterbaths kept at 60°C, 75°C, and 90°C.
Each experiment, run in duplicate, consisted of 3 groups of rabbits; one group as a control to show that the fibroma-suspension alone produced “orthodox” lesions, one group as a control to prove that the myxoma suspension had been completely inactivated, and one group in which transformation was to take place.
In the group used as a control for the fibroma-suspension, 2 rabbits were inoculated in the following sites with a fresh 10 to 20% fibroma suspension diluted with an equal volume of Locke's solution:
In the group used to check inactivation of the myxoma-suspension, 6 rabbits were inoculated, 2 with the suspension inactivated at 60°C, 2 with the suspension inactivated at 75°C, and 2 with the suspension inactivated at 90° C. The following injections were made on each rabbit:
At intervals of 5 to 15 days, the inoculated testicles were removed, emulsified, and the suspension was injected into the testicles of a second group of 6 rabbits which in addition had received subcutaneous and intraäbdominal injections of the heat-inactivated material.
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