Cutaneous Reactions with Culture Filtrates of the Colon Typhoid Type

The observations of Ecker and Rimington on the production of skin reactions with synthetic medium culture filtrates (concentrated and dialyzed) of organisms belonging to the colon-typhoid group have been confirmed and extended. The filtrates show a marked degree of thermostability and marked resistance to ultraviolet radiation. Intravenous injections of the filtrates stimulate the production of precipitins. No precipitins are produced in the sera of rabbits that receive intracutaneous injections only. At no time during the course of immunization was the skin reaction obliterated. An indurative process was noted at the site of injection (skin) during the course of immunization. Mixtures of the filtrates with their homologous antisera, obtained from animals immunized by the intravenous route, and injected into skin, also failed to obliterate the erythema and edema. The observations of Shwartzman have been confirmed; the Shwartzman phenomenon appears to be group or species specific. Filtrates from enterococci failed to produce the phenomenon. Filtrates of other unrelated organisms have not been studied. The products of Shwartzman and of Ecker and Rimington appear to be the same.