Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-09-09
QUESTION Of SNEEZES
and COLDS Discussed
Experiments With R bbitS
Made to Determine Ell
fectS of Bacillus
S PATIENTS DIE
FROM PNEUMONIA

Whenever we get the snuffles are
we to credit the popular medical
writers with their new doctrine that
sneezes do not come from sitting in
drafts, that we did not catch cold
at all but that the coryza was due
to unusual numbers and rapacity OF
germs in nose and throat? Yes and
no, is tle equivOcal reply appearing
in the September issue of the Jour
nal of Experimental MEDICINE, pub
lished b. he Rockefeller Institute for
Medical Research. The sudden chill
helps in the infection. Also, changes
from cold TO warm we suspect as
most to be dreaded
The Journal presents a report OF
experiments on snufiles in rabbits
by Dr. James Alexander Miller and
Willis c. Noble. working in the bac
THEOLOGICAL laboratory of New York
University and Bellevue Hospital
Medical College, New York. Now the
rabbit is very susceptible TO the snuff
fles bacillus. known scientifically as
Bacillus bovisepticus. Though usual
" running a natural course. the doc
tors point out that this common all
ment may terminate in a fatal pneu
monia with or without general blood
poisoning. Therefore, it is always
serious. Three sets of experiments
were made In the first which was
conducted during the late winter
months Of 1915 and 1916. 81 expert
mental rabbits were used in IL sepa
rate series of from two to four ami
mails. each with an equal number OF
controls.
The experimental rabbits we're KEEP
in an incubator at warm temperatures
for periods varying from one day t
one week. In 10 series this tempera'
.ure was between $3.50 degrees Fab
renheit, and in two II varied from 20
rs and 63-7S degrees Fahrenheit, re
spectively. being, however, at thu
higher level most Of the time. The an
imals were then inOculased by spray
ing the nasal mucous membrane or thu
throat with a small amount of the live
culture Of Bacillus bOvisepticus
emulsifed in salt solution. After in
oculation they were Immediately chill
ed by exposing them to the outside
weather for periods varying from one
half to three hours and at a tempera
.ure OF 20-56 degrees Fahrenheit Il
he majority Of the experiments thu
'ur OF the animals was wet with waite
At about body temperature, to facilli
tate chilling upon exposure.
The control animals, also 81 in mum
her. were kept constantly at tenn
peratuge OF $50 degrees Fahrenheit
and were inoculated at the sam
time and in the same manner as tn
experimental animals Of the CORE
spending series. None OF these wa
vet,
OF the experimental rabbits, five
died Of pneumonia and one Of genera
septicemia. while nine we're made i'll
but recovered. OF the controls. three
died and six others were infected bu
recovered. In every case when dealt
resulted the animal was autopsied
the character OF the LESSONS noted anC
the specific organism isolated from
the hearts blood
In the second experiment four ami
mails were kept at out-of-door temper
allure for two days and after inocula
ton. as in the previous experiment
we're placed in an incubator al 1885
degrees Fahrenheit for from to 1.
DAYS. A similar number of controls
inoculated In the same way. were
kept constantly at room temperature
1870 degrees Fahrenheit). OF the ex
detrimental animals, all reacted. o.
which one died. or the controls. onl,
two reacted. one Of which also died
All three series of third expert
ment were carried on Simultaneous,
with two animals in each series. ant
with one set of two control animals
which were kept continuously at room
temperature (65-70 degrees Fahren
heit.
In the first OF the series subjected
to change from low to high temper
allure. both animals died Of pneu
monia. In the second series, sub
iected TO several changes from room
temperature to high. then to low ant
back to room temperature. both ami
mails reacted, of which one died o
pneumonia. In the third series, sub
jected to a change from high to low
temperature. only one animal reacted
slightly with snuffies. Neither OF thi
two controls reacted.
From the three series Of expert
ments the doctors draw these conclu
sions:
Respiratory infection Of rab-
bits with Bacillus bovisepticus
(snufrles) is favored by chilling
the animals after they have been
accustomed to heat.
The character Of this disease,
which occurs frequently in rabbits
under natural conditions, makes
the application Of the experiment
tai Results to similar respiratory
conditions in man less open to OBJ
lection than in similar expert
ments with other infections.
The weight of experimental evil
dence. including our own. does not
justify the elimination of expos
ure to cold as possible though
secondary factor in the incidence
OF acute respiratory disease.
From the limited data Of our