Inhibition of the Shwartzman Phenomenon by Local Application of Bromobenzene and Other Solvents.

SummaryComplete inhibition of the Shwartzman phenomenon was produced by a single application of bromobenzene to the surface of prepared skin areas at any time during the 20 hours after the intradermal injection of bacterial toxin. Similar results were obtained with other benzene derivatives, and, less constantly, with chloroform and methyl salicylate.Areas of rabbit skin which were prepared by the intradermal injection of meningococcal toxin showed no increase in permeability to Evans Blue dye, when the dye was injected intravenously.A single application of bromobenzene to the surface of normal rabbit skin resulted in the prompt appearance of intravenously injected Evans Blue dye in the painted area. In contrast, little or no dye appeared in painted areas which had previously been injected with meningococcal toxin. Similar results were obtained when skin was painted with other benzene derivatives, chloroform and methyl salicylate.The possible bearing of these observations on the problem of the mechanism o...