STUDIES ON INDIFFERENT STREPTOCOCCI : III. THE ALLERGIZING CAPACITY OF DIFFERENT STRAINS.

The indifferent streptococci are remarkably efficient allergizing agents when inoculated intradermally into rabbits. This is revealed by the high percentage of secondary reactions which occur in the lesions resulting from the inoculation of small doses of these organisms, and by the relative frequency with which positive ophthalmic reactions are obtained following sensitization with relatively small doses. This allergizing capacity is most marked in the organisms of Type I and least marked in the non-inulin-fermenting strains of Group X. The different resultants emerging from variations in allergizing capacity of streptococci and reactivity of host are clearly demonstrated in this series of experiments.