The Histologic Aspect of Experimental Poliomyelitis Produced via the Gastro-Intestinal Tract

An excellent review of the histologic and pathologic features of poliomyelitis is contained in Faber's monograph.1He considered and reviewed the various theories of the propagation of the virus. The theory that the virus spreads along the nerve axons, suggested by Römer2and demonstrated by Hurst3and Fairbrother and Hurst,4is the theory of Faber's choice and is the theory best fitted to explain the spread of the virus in the human being and in the experimental animal. Hurst3injected the virus intracerebrally into eighteen Macacus rhesus monkeys, and sections were taken at the onset of symptoms. Subsequently ten animals were studied4to ascertain the manner of propagation of the virus. The latter animals were killed after varying intervals, and sections were taken and studied histologically. This paper is a report on the histologic and pathologic aspects of poliomyelitis found in Macacus rhesus monkeys