A STUDY OF ACCESSORY ETIOLOGIC FACTORS IN PNEUMONIA IN RABBITS. I. THE EFFECT OF PUTTING BRILLIANT GREEN INTO THE NASAL PASSAGES*

Abstract

Single or repeated, bilateral, intranasal instillation of 0.2 cc. of a 0.1-0.3% solution of brilliant green into 33 rabbits found to be carrying Bad. lepisepticum was followed by severe snuffles. Twenty-seven died on an average of 10 days after the last treatment; 6 recovered. All fatal cases showed well marked lesions such as lobar pneumonia, pleurisy and paricarditis, and furnished pure cultures of Bact. lepisepticum. The heart blood was sterile in all but 4. Eight rabbits not carrying Bact. lepisepticum but given brilliant green as above and on the next day 0.2 cc. to 1 drop of broth culture of Bad. lepisepticum all developed severe snuffles and 7 died. The latter all showed severe intrathoracic lesions and had Bact. lepisepticum in the heart blood. Seven normal rabbits receiving only the broth culture intranasally remained well save for a slight serous nasal discharge; 5 of these controls (still carrying the organism) were later treated with brilliant green and all developed snuffles; 2 died. Rabbits not carrying Bact. lepisepticum but receiving brilliant green intranasally remained well except for development of a slight serous nasal discharge on the day following nasal instillation.