STUDIES IN GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Abstract

Repeated injections into the blood stream of streptococci and stapnylococci derived from cases of scarlet fever, and of Bacillus coli communior failed to produce typical glomerulonephritis even when immune antibodies could be demonstrated in the serum in high dilutions. Bacteriolysis of streptococci was not found by the usual tests in intro or by the Pfeiffer procedure. It is therefore concluded that the weight of evidence is against the theory that glomerulonephritis is due to immune bacteriolysis of streptococci. The experiments also failed to give any support to the hypothesis of allergy or. of sensitization as a factor in the production of the disease. Evidence is presented to show that bacterial emboli are rapidly removed from the glomerular capillaries by leukocytes, and that this embolism, even after injections of enormous quantities of bacteria, affects but a small proportion of the glomeruli. It is again suggested that a circulating poison in the soluble state is responsible directly for the disease in question.