THE SPLANCHNIC REMOVAL IN RABBITS DURING FATAL BACTERIEMIAS OF THE CIRCULATING ORGANISMS AND OF SUPERIMPOSED NON-PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

1. By a method of hepatic venous catheterization previously described, comparative data have been obtained concerning the removal of pneumococci from the splanchnic circulating blood of the intact rabbit in bacteriemias secondary to a dermal infection and in bacteriemias induced by a continuous infusion of organisms into the blood stream. The average splanchnic removal in secondary pneumococcal bacteriemias was 8 ± 14 per cent (S.D.), in induced bacteriemias 9 ± 15 per cent (S.D.). 2. Similar data were obtained in induced M. aureus bacteriemias in normal rabbits and in induced M. aureus bacteriemias superimposed upon pneumococcal bacteriemias secondary to dermal infection. The average splanchnic removal of M. aureus in normal rabbits was 62 ± 20 per cent (S.D.). The splanchnic removal of M. aureus in rabbits with a simultaneous pneumococcal bacteriemia of infection was of the same order of magnitude as in normal rabbits. 3. The efficiency of the mechanism of splanchnic removal for a given organism is an important factor in the establishment and maintenance of a bacteriemia. Present evidence indicates that the maintenance of a bacteriemia requires a constant introduction into the blood stream of organisms from some source. 4. Pneumococci do not acquire a resistance to removal from the splanchnic circulating blood during the course of fatal infection in rabbits. 5. No final exhaustion of the mechanism of splanchnic removal can be demonstrated in fatal pneumococcal bacteriemias in rabbits.