The rôle of the phagocyte in cerebro-spinal meningitis

The more or less constant presence of the meningococcus in the spinal fluid of cases of cerebro-spinal fever, has led to many suggestions as to how this microbe gains admission to the spinal canal. It has been assumed that either there is a direct passage of the organism from the naso-pharynx to the cerebral meninges, or that transmission takes place through the blood or lymph channels. The membranes which enclose the spinal fluid, however, present a serious obstacle to the passage of the microbe, and in fact it is doubtful if, in the living tissues, such a passage could take place.