Pemphigus vulgaris and the other clinical forms of the pemphigus group have so far had an obscure etiology. Neither the nervous and infectious nor the French toxic theories have been proved. Samberger's1 new work on the lymphatic reaction brought a new light on this problem. It shows that the bullae in pemphigus being on a noninflammatory basis are caused by hyperproduction of lymph which becomes accumulated in the epidermis (active lymphatic edema). Prof. Samberger says in his textbook:2 "This active edema is brought on sometimes by the contraction of the blood vessels from a vasomotor irritation. The edema, however, cannot be produced by irritation of vasomotors; it results from the hypersecretion of the lymph. The hypersecretion of the lymph did not even in these cases result from a vasomotor irritation; it was incited by the oxygen starved tissues." And further: "In some cases, not in all by any