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The work demonstrates the unmistakable value of gastric lavage in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults. An attempt was also made to see if the method had any prognostic implications, but without success. At least more can be determined by repeated roentgenologic study, in which the trends in the character of the lesions can be followed. Patients having gastric washings negative for tubercle bacilli frequently became worse, while as many patients having material which was positive for the organisms improved. There is no doubt that the stage of evolution of the disease had more to do with prognosis than the presence or absence of bacilli.
The records of the controls, including those who gave positive and those who gave negative reactions for tubercle bacilli, were thoroughly studied and documented. The author has confirmed the established fact that tubercle bacilli are not found in persons with no evidence of disease