THE FUNCTION OF THE SPLEEN IN THE EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF ALBINO MICE WITH BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS

Infection of rats and mice with Bacillus tuberculosis (bovine type) develops a splenic tumor as a typical lesion. Removal of the spleen from mice (albino) greatly increases their resistance to the infection. This increased resistance cannot be explained at present. The infection in the splenectomized mice tends to remain localized as contrasted with an almost septicemic type of disease which is usual in the normal animal. The animals of each group that live more than thirty days are apt to present typical exudative lesions. The removal of the spleen does not therefore grossly change what may be called the capacity of the body for exudation.