Abstract
Summary
A simple method is described for the production of rapidly progressive lethal infections. It consists of the administration of two readily available agents in combination, cortisone and x-radiation, to laboratory animals in preparation for test within the next 24 hours as recipients of a microorganism. Cortisone and x-radiation each over a wide dosage range act synergistically to potentiate the enhancive effect that may result from the employment of either agent singly. The result of this effect is a remarkable alteration in the susceptibility of a test animal to infection by any of a variety of infectious agents, as evidenced by rapid weight loss, death and extensive histopathological lesions. The ready applicability of the method is illustrated in this paper by experiments that utilized four microbiological agents: poliomyelitis virus, a Coxsackie virus, Candida albicans, and Blastomyces dermatitidis. The experimental studies that employed these agents and the findings for other viruses, bacteria and fungi will be reported in detail elsewhere.
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