Evening star., 1940-10-09

ferretS and men. Is an Inflammation
of the epithelial Innings of the
bronchial tubes. The virus apparent
ly directly attacks and kills these
highly specialized epithelial cells
This leaves a raw, exposed surface
which is an ideal breeding ground
for the bacteria usually present
in the throat-the StreptocOCci
staphlycocci. pneumoccoci and in
f1uenZa bacilae. These then invade
the lungs, causing a pneumonia
which often is fatal.
Most physicians advise flu vic
tins to remain in bed until all
symptoms have subsided. Thus the
whole energy of the body can be
conserved for fighting back the
hosts of organisms which have
found lodging in the inflamed bron-
chial tubes. A slight chill may be
all that is needed to lower the re-
sistaince to the point where a
fatal invasion is possible.
The influenza bacillus has been
the subject of much investigation
by the United States Public Heath
Service 1t appears in two forms
One. it has been found. is the most
common organism causing the hith-
erto deadly cerebrospinal menin-
gifts in children. This is usually at
tributed to an entirely different
organism, the meningoCoccus. The
other type is more common in pneu-
monia.
The organism causing the fatal
inflammation of the Innings of the
brain, it has been found, is fairly
brain. it has been found, is fairly
fapyridine. This drug. together with
sulfanilamide and sulfathiazol is re-
lied on to combat many of the sec
ondary pneumonias which may
arise. from another flu epidemic.
Extent of Protection Unknown.
1t must be stated frankly that DR..
Horsfall and DR.. Lennette do not
know that the vaccine will protect
human beings against all forms Of
flu
Also it is not KNOWN that the vir-
ulent malady of 1918 was the same
disease as breaks out sporadically
nearly every year. Even the exist
ence of filterable viruSes hardly was
known at the time. There is every
reason to believe, however, that the
same minute organism was at work,
in one form or another.
a nf tho
haps of all viruSeS-iS that it in
creaSes in virulence as it passes from
person to person. Probably a con-
centration, such as would be afford
ed by an army camp, is necessary
for the malady to achieve its most
intense form.
Drs. Horsfall and Lennette have
found that mixture Of flu and dis
temper vaccines, produced in diff
ferent animals. gives no protection
at all. The two must be combined
in the blood of the same animal.
Also it seems necessary to use the
same strain of distemper virus as
was used in the original expert
mentS.
The two doctors say in a COM
munication to Science, the official
journal of the American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
In order to ascertain whether a
vaccine possessing an immunizing
efficacy equal to that of the original
preparation could be produced at
will, ferrets were innoculated with
mixtures of both influenza and dis
temper viruses and were killed at
various intervals thereafter. For
malized vaccines were prepared from
their lungs and spleens, repeating
the original procedure. These vac
cines were tested in normal ferrets,
and at various intervals thereafter
the serum of the vaccinated animals
was tested for the presence of neu-
tralizing antibodies. The animals
themselves were also tested for ac-
tive immunity to influenza virus.
Many Vaccines Prepared.
TT soon became apparent that
it was not easy to prepare vaccines
as effective as the original prepara-
ton. A large number of different
vaccines were prepared from the It's
sues of ferrets which had been in
fected with both viruses. The dur
alton and severity of the two
infections were varied. Separate