EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION AND TREATMENT OF C. DIPHTHERIAE SINUSITIS IN RABBITS

Acute suppurative sinusitis in rabbits has been produced success- {ully by introducing Strebtococcus hemolyiicus into the antrum (1). Such a procedure, however. is not applicable to the production of diphtheritic sinusitis in these animals since it is well known that the mere presence of C. diphtheriae on the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract fails to lead to the invasion of the tissues by this organism. Lesions can be induced only when the mucous membrane prewously has been damaged before the organisms are introduced. Even then pathologicaJ changes are not constantly observed and it is questionable whether the pseudomembrane thus produced corresponds histologically to that of the false membrane observed in patients suffering from diphtheria (2). Since there are many interesting and unsolved problems associated with the clinical manifestations of this disease, it appeared worthwhile to make further efforts to produce experimental diphtheritic infection in animals in order that some of these problems might be subjected to controlled investigation.