Paul B. Beeson

Effect of Reticulo-Endothelial Blockade on Immunity to the Shwartzman Phenomenon.∗

Summary A study has been made of the effect of R-E blockade upon natural or induced immunity of rabbits to the Shwartzman phenomenon. Striking results were obtained when Thorotrast was used as the blocking agent. Rabbits that had shown a natural immunity, or had become immune following a series of previous Shwartzman reactions, responded, after the injection of Thorotrast, by developing typical areas of hemorrhagic necrosis. In addition to eliciting a positive skin reaction in a previously immune animal, R-E blockade increased the injurious effect of the bacterial toxin, causing death in the majority of animals tested.

Cancer and Eosinophilia

The investigations by Slungaard and colleagues, described in this issue,1 deal with the mechanism of a spectacular elevation of blood eosinophils in a patient with lung cancer and provide us with a...

Isolation of Virus of Lymphogranuloma Venereum from Blood and Spinal Fluid of a Human Being.

Summary Eight patients with acute lymphogranuloma venereum, proved by isolation of the virus from buboes, were examined lor the presence of virus in blood or spinal fluid, or both. The virus was found in the blood and also in the spinal fluid of one patient. The clinical features in this case were not significantly different from those of the other 7 cases. This is the first reported instance of isolation of the agent of lymphogranuloma venereum from the blood of a human being.

Studies on Chancroid. IV. The Ducrey Bacillus Growth Requirements and Inhibition by Antibiotic Agents.

SummaryIn a comparative study of several strains of Ducrey bacillus with H. influenzal and H. parainfluenzal a number of significant biologic differences have been noted. The Ducrey bacillus will not grow in a medium which supplies both the X and V factors. Unlike these other members of the genus Hemophilus, the Ducrey bacillus will grow in a medium enriched only with blood serum. It will also grow in a medium enriched only with erythrocytes. The agents in serum and in erythrocytes which support growth of the Ducrey bacillus differ in heat stability; that in serum withstands 100° C but not auto-claving, while that in erythrocytes is inactivated by heating to 65 ° C. The addition of both erythrocytes and serum to the base medium provides a more favorable medium for the growth of the Ducrey bacillus than either one alone. Ducrey colonies will not develop on the surface of a solid medium unless the humidity of the atmosphere is very high. The “satellite phenomenon” is not observed in colonies of Ducrey bacil...Summary In a comparative study of several strains of Ducrey bacillus with H. influenzal and H. parainfluenzal a number of significant biologic differences have been noted. The Ducrey bacillus will not grow in a medium which supplies both the X and V factors. Unlike these other members of the genus Hemophilus, the Ducrey bacillus will grow in a medium enriched only with blood serum. It will also grow in a medium enriched only with erythrocytes. The agents in serum and in erythrocytes which support growth of the Ducrey bacillus differ in heat stability; that in serum withstands 100° C but not auto-claving, while that in erythrocytes is inactivated by heating to 65 ° C. The addition of both erythrocytes and serum to the base medium provides a more favorable medium for the growth of the Ducrey bacillus than either one alone. Ducrey colonies will not develop on the surface of a solid medium unless the humidity of the atmosphere is very high. The “satellite phenomenon” is not observed in colonies of Ducrey bacillus. Attempts to separate Ducrey growth factors from whole blood or serum by dialysis have not been successful. The Ducrey bacillus differs significantly from H. influenza and H. parainfluenzce in susceptibility to inhibition by penicillin and by tyrothricin.