COMPULSIVE VIOLENCE AS DISEASE  51R5


  In 1951 Dr. Rosenow offered "evidence that highly specific


neurotropic toxins or poisons produced by a non-apparent type of


streptococcal infection in nasopharynx or elsewhere may be


responsible for the abnormal compulsions that characterize the



behavior and acts of criminally inclined persons."


  "The idea that a specific type of streptococcal infection or


intoxication might in some way be causative of morbid or perverted


compulsions in human beings criminally inclined did not occur to us


until an unexpected reaction occurred to the control antibody in


the following experiment:  It was found that highly nervous


prisoners who had intercurrent respiratory infection, ulcer of the


stomach, myositis or arthritis reacted specifically to the


respective streptococcal thermal antibodies and reacted more to the


'neurotropic' streptococcal thermal antibody prepared from


streptococci isolated in studies of chronic encephalitis injected


as a control than did persons from outside who were ill with these


same diseases but who were normal in behavior and other respects. 


It was this clue tht led to a study of criminals from a


bacteriologic standpoint."


  "The streptococcus isolated, while morphologically and culturally


similar to streptococci present normally in nasopharynx of well


persons and persons having other diseases, was found to possess


certain specific properties.  On isolation from the end point of


growth of serial dilution cultures in dextrose-brain broth it


tended to localize in the brain of mice on intravenous injection. 


On cerebral inoculation it produced in significant incidence


changes in behavior which in some respects simulated those


characteristic of incorrigible prisoners.


  "... These consisted of severe tremors and excitation,


hyperirritability, dashing about wildly, jumping up at the wall of


the cage at repeated intervals, burying the head in bedding on the


floor or under other mice and dashing over the huddle of more


normal mice.  Others walked slowly about in a dazed manner."


 "... Moreover, reactions to antibody in prisoners were greater in


winter than in summer, paralleling the seasonal incidence of


admissions to the Ohio Penitentiary and the seasonal incidence of


crime according to the FBI.


  "... The studies reported previously in Sydenham's chorea,


epidemic hiccup, spasmodic torticollis, respoiratory arrhythmia,


persistent sneezing and convulsion, idiopathic epilepsy and


schizophrenia and those summarized herein - all conditions


characterized by distinctive abnormal behavior patterns - are in


accord with the thesis that bacterial infection or intoxication may


cause changes in behavior referable to the central nervous system. 


 But these studies go a step farther, for they indicate that the


infections and consequent intoxications are due to respective


highly specific but closely related types of nonhemolytic


streptococci."


  Dr. Rosenow concluded with the suggestion "that passive and


active immunization with specific streptococcal antibody and


antigen may prove of value in diagnosis, treatment and prevention


of recurrences of this deplorable state." [51R5]


CRIMINALITY-REACTIONS TO ANTIBODY VS. F.B.I., OHIO STATS-51R5-431


"... reactions to [specific, incorrigible-related antibody in


prisoners were greated in winter than in summer, paralleling the


seasonal incidence of admissions to the Ohio Penitentiary and the


seasonal incidence of crime according to the F.B.I."






VIOLENT CRIMINALITY DUE IN PART TO INFECTION  51R5-432


"The data adduced are tentatively considered to indicate (1) that


incorrigibility, morbid compulsions and other abnormal behaviorisms


which characterize this group of criminally-inclined persons may be


due in part to a specific neurotropic type of streptococcal


infection or intoxication, (2) that cutaneous reactions to thermal


antibodies are diagnostic of such infection or intoxication" and


thus might be used for monitoring or parole considerations, and


"(3) that passive and active immunization with specific


streptococcal antibody and antigen may prove of value in diagnosis,


treatment and prevention of recurrences of this deplorable


state."51R5