EN
The hitherto investigations of intestinal microflora of mammals at application of diagnostic bacteriological methods have proved a wide diversity of intestinal microflora and of its distribution in particular alimentary tract sectors depending on microflora and animal kind (4). In white rats no living E. coli cells in stomach and forepart of small intestine have been found, probably in connection with too acid reaction. It is in accordance with own observations made in previous works. On the other hand, a question arises, whether E. coli cells taken up by an animal with fodder or in another way, and submitted to action of gastric juice, will be digested in further alimentary tract parts and whether a danger existe of release into intestine of higher endotoxin amounts. This question constitutes just the subject of the present work.