Studies on the Pathogenesis of Meningitis. Ii. Development of Meningitis During Pneumococcal Bacteremia*

In a previous publication we described an ex- perimental form of pneumococcal meningitis in dogs, which was produced by introduction of type III pneumococci into the subarachnoid space through a small midline burr hole placed equi- distant between the coronal and occipital sutures (1). The infection produced in this manner in- volved the entire neuraxis and, with the exception of marked changes in the spinal cord, closely resembled that found in man. It seems unlikely, however, that entry from the external environment is the only means by which bacteria enter the subarachnoid space. An alternative possibility is that the meninges are infected by way of the blood stream. The present paper is concerned with the development of meningitis during pneumococcal bacteremia in dogs.