RECIPROCAL EFFECTS OF CONCOMITANT INFECTIONS : I. THE INFLUENCE OF VACCINIA ON THE REACTION TO INFECTION WITH EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS.

Experiments are reported in which was studied the effect of a concomitant infection, vaccinia, upon the syphilitic reaction of rabbits. Vaccine virus was inoculated intracutaneously on the side of the body at the time of intratesticular inoculation with Treponema pallidum. The results showed clearly that the vaccination caused a profound disturbance in the syphilitic reaction, the ensuing syphilis being extremely severe. From an analysis of various features of the reaction, it appeared that the factor of host resistance was primarily concerned in the effects observed.