Die Bedeutung des Retikuloendothelialsystems für das Streptokokkensepsisproblem.

Stimulated by their interest in puerperal fever and septic abortion the authors undertook a systematic investigation of the general problems of septicemia caused by Streptococceae. This monograph summarizes the results of their experimental work on white mice in which several strains of streptococci of various degrees of virulence were employed. Attention was directed particularly to the reticuloendothelial system in an effort to gain a better understanding of its rôle in combating such infections.

Certain morphologic and tinctorial changes in the cells of the reticulo-endothelial system are described, which the authors consider indicative of their functional capacity as a defense mechanism. In a search for agents which can stimulate the reticulo-endothelial system to heightened activity an enormous number of experiments were performed in which the microscopic observations were correlated with the ultimate outcome of the infection.

It was found that "blockade" with trypan blue and colloidal iron rendered mice more susceptible