Occurrence of Generalized Infection of Enteric Origin in Mice Poisoned with Nitrogen Mustard.

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Abstract
1. Nine to 10 weeks old female mice, averaging 27 g in weight were injected intraperitoneally with 0.2 mg (approximately 7 mg per kilo = LD90) of nitrogen mustard (Methyl bis (β-chloroethyl) hydrochloride). Cultures of heart's blood and spleen of mice sacrificed for that purpose were made at daily intervals. 2. Bacteremia was found to be present in over 1/3 of the mice on the 5th, 6th and 7th days. A number of additional mice on these days (6-17%) showed positive cultures of spleen only. The species of bacteria recovered from blood and or spleen were all members of the normal intestinal flora, with the exception of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis murium. 3. Generalized infection of enteric origin seems to play a less important role as a cause of death in mice poisoned with nitrogen mustard than in mice subjected to moderate doses of total body x-radiation.