During the past fifteen years, the faucial region of almost every person presenting himself to a laryngologist has been carefully scrutinized to ascertain clinically whether there is any local justification for the removal of the tonsils. The presence of pus in the follicles and substance of the tonsils is frequently described as the local evidence of the necessity for removal. The presence of pus, free pus, in these organs is an exceedingly rare condition from my observation; probably patients and physicians refer to inspissated secretion contained in the follicles. For some time I have been faced with the assertion, and no doubt many of the members of this association have had similar experience, that the tonsils must be cultured to determine the necessity for excision, the presence of streptococcus, staphylococcus or pneumococcus, and possibly of other cocci, being the determining factor. It has always been my firm conviction that