IMMUNOLOGIC AND BACTERIOLOGIC FEATURES OF PNEUMOCOCCIC INFECTIONS IN NEPHROSIS

The frequent occurrence of pneumococcic peritonitis as a terminal infection in nephrosis and the contention of Blackman and others 1 that nephrosis is a result of pneumococcic infection suggested a study of children with nephrosis from the standpoint of their humoral immunity against the pneumococcus. The fact that pneumococcic peritonitis is the common cause of death in nephrosis stimulated also an investigation into the value of systemic and local immunization in the prevention of this terminal pneumococcic peritonitis. As a supplementary study, cultures of material from the nose and throat and in the case of girls of material from the vagina also were made to establish if possible the source of the penumococcic invasion. Secondary pneumococcic infections have long been known to be a complicating factor in nephrosis. Volhard and Fahr, 2 in 1914, were the first to call attention to the close relationship existing between these two conditions, and