the following viz., hereditary differences in the rapidity of 

 blood formation, dependent upon the new growth of red 

 corpuscles ; hereditary differences in the trophic and plastic 

 energy of the other tissues of the body ; and hereditary 

 differences in the quantity, function, and proliferating capa- 

 city of the fat-carrying connective tissue and its vascular 

 apparatus. The foregoing are some of the conditions which 

 on the one hand influence the extent of the tendency to fat- 

 production ; and, on the other hand, possibly or certainly, 

 come under the influence of the hereditary principle. Thus 

 far Immermann analyses the constitutional peculiarities on 

 which, in a pathological sense, corpulence depends ; but it 

 will be seen that they are all hereditary, and this is the main 

 point for which I am contending. There cannot, indeed, be 

 any doubt that obesity is a condition, a tendency to which is 

 unquestionably hereditary, and that it characterises families 

 for successive generations malgre many systems of treatment 

 and innumerable nostrums, notwithstanding which natura 

 non nisi parendo vincitur. 



Scrofulosis. However great the temptation, I have no 

 intention of entering here into a discussion of the 

 innumerable theories propounded from time to time as to 

 the etiology and pathology of scrofula, and its relation to 

 tuberculosis, but shall content myself by observing, in the 

 words of Dr. H. G. Sutton, that " A strumous constitution 

 produces phthisis ; scrofula and phthisis are inseparable." 

 Regarding tuberculosis or scrofulosis as a constitutional 

 disease, it is now universally acknowledged to be hereditary 

 in its origin. Pathologists are divided in their opinions as 

 to whether the disease itself, or a predisposition to it, is 

 inherited; and, notwithstanding the fact that tubercle is 

 often actually congenital, I am inclined to believe, with 



