EXTRACTS FROM EXCHANGES. 
J 019 
there is a chance of infection of the ovum, through tubercular 
sperma, and in this manner causing a spreading of tubercular 
processes in the growing foetus. Koch does not believe in the 
existence of hereditary tuberculosis, admitting only a certain 
hereditary predisposition. On the contrary, Baumgarten con¬ 
siders this disease just as hereditary as any other disease of a 
similar nature, and accepts the possibility of transmission from 
both mother and father, by means of the sperma. Virchow, on 
the other hand, considers the vitality of the ovum after infection 
with bacilli questionable. Johne arrived at the same conclu¬ 
sion, and declares it very improbable that such a delicate crea¬ 
tion as the ovum could offer resistance to the influence of the 
tubercle bacilli. To decide the submitted question, the author 
cites next, the remarkably extensive literature on this subject, 
and concludes from the same that (i) a placental transmission 
of tuberculosis to the foetus is a frequent occurrence, but that 
(2) still more frequently does a transmission of this infectious 
disease take place from father to child, as can be seen from 
numerous clinical observations made. Tuberculosis of the father 
is ten times more dangerous for the children than that of the 
mother (Klebs ). To decide the last question in an experi¬ 
mental way, the author proceeded in the following manner : A 
few drops of a highly virulent tubercle bacilli culture 111 a mild 
soda solution, was injected into the vagina of a female rabbit, 
which gave birth a few hours previously. This procedure 
was immediately followed by an act of copulation, as these 
animals are most susceptible for conception directly after par¬ 
turition. After 6-8 days the female rabbit was killed, the 
uterus with the containing embryo embedded in paraffine, and 
series of sections made, which were then treated with the regu¬ 
lar tubercle bacilli stains (Anilin water, Fuchsin mixture, etc.), 
In examining these preparates derived from the embryo in the 
earliest state of development, as per above, there was found in 
all of them tubercle bacilli in small or large numbers, mostly 
inside of the cells, and in one case in the form of a whole col¬ 
ony. The mother animal proved to be entirely free of tubercu¬ 
losis ; a careful search for bacilli in the vagina and uterus was 
also fruitless, which corresponds with the observations of other 
investigators (Gartner, Maffucci), and also with clinical observa¬ 
tions. These bacilli seem to be eliminated from the genital 
canal in an unknown manner. As to the mode of entering of 
the bacilli into the ovum, the literature does not contain satis¬ 
factory explanations, especially in relation to the possibility of 
