The Influence of Latent Syphilitic Infection on the Reaction of the Rabbit to the Brown-pearce Tumor

The reaction of the latent syphilitic rabbit to inoculation with the Brown-Pearce tumor was studied in 50 standard bred rabbits representing five breeds. The mean tumor mortality rate in the combined group was found to be significantly lower than a weighted control value for normal non-syphilitic animals, and the mean tumor mortality rate for each of the five breeds studied was lower in the syphilitic group than the corresponding breed mean value for normal animals. Moreover, the relative resistance of different breeds to the Brown-Pearce tumor was not altered by the latent syphilitic infection. Certain factors which might have contributed to the development of a tumor resistant state in the syphilitic group were discussed, and evidence was presented which demonstrates that as regards the breeds under consideration, there exists a high correlation between breed resistance to Tr. pallidum infection and breed resistance to the Brown-Pearce tumor.