Abstract
Sixteen biopsy specimens of the sites of the Mitsuda reaction were removed from six lepromatous cases and were studied histopathologically.
Simultaneously boiled Mycobacterium lep. murium and B. C. G. (either in one case) were injected and studied as control.
The results are as follows.
(1) An acute exsudative inflammation with neutrophile leucocytes and histiocytes were observed after 48 hours. But the grade of inflammation was slighter than that of the Mitsuda positive case.
(2) This inflammatory process disappeared quickly thereafter and left only slight cellinfiltration around small vessels, sweat glands and hair follicles.
(3) No tuberculoid granuloma was found. On the contrary the tuberculoid granuloma could be seen with B. C. G. and Mycobacterium lep. murium. This fact shows the specificity of Mitsuda reaction.
(4) The injected lepra bacilli disappears sooner than that of neural and tuberculoid case.
(5) The negative reaction in the lepromatous case is the evidence of lack of resistance against lepra bacilli.
