SOME PROBLEMS OF THE PATHOGENESIS OF PLAGUE. REPORT 2. A CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF PRIMARY PNEUMONIC PLAGUE,

An experimental study of the topographic distribution of the plague microbe in the organism of guinea pigs was conducted with a consideration of a possible routes of infection, causing the development of primary pneumonic plague. Guinea pigs were infected subcutaneously in the area of the nasal cartilage, through the mucous membranes of the eyes, in the submucous membrane of the oral cavity, directly in the tissue of the lungs and intramuscularly in the area of the neck. Stemming from experimental data, the residence of the causative agent on the mucous membranes involves its multiplication at the site of localization or foci of multiplication are formed in their regional lymph nodes with the subsequent septicemic outcome of the disease. The penetration of particles of the aerosol into the alveoli will be accompanied by the formation of foci of multiplication not only in the tissue of the lungs but also in other organs with a septicemic outcome. In comparing the possible routes of infection, causing the development of primary pneumonic plage, with the multiplication of the plague microbe and the formation of foci of its multiplication on the mucous membranes and in the regional lymph nodes in experimental animals, there are bases to refuse or reject the possibility of the development of primary pneumonic plague. The clinical complex accompanying the stated disease must be viewed as a septicemic process. Author