BACTERIOPHAGE TESTS ON THE MECONIUM OF ABORTED FETUSES

The theory that tissue cells are the source of bacteriophage was objected to by d'Hérelle on the grounds that bacteriophage in the intestinal contents could penetrate the intestinal mucosa and migrate throughout the body and that any demonstration of its presence within the body fluids was in accordance with this phenomenon. The present work sought to overcome this objection by using tissues which had been exposed to but a single organism,—Bacillus abortus. Filtrates of meconium from six aborted bovine fetuses were tested against several strains of Bacillus abortus, but no evidence of a lytic principle could be demonstrated. Neither could it be shown that they contained a substance which would initiate lysis when tested against numerous strains of bovine colon bacilli.