Postmortem infections should receive prompt surgical attention, as the smallest one is dangerous and may develop in a few hours to such an extent as to cause the most alarming constitutional symptoms. In a way all autopsy work, like surgical operations, offers a risk to the operator. This is particularly great in all cases of pyogenic infection, tuberculosis, blastomycosis, syphilis and the acute specific infectious diseases. Any of these infections may be received through the unbroken skin by way of a hair-follicle; but previous cuts, abrasions, hang-nails, etc., form a frequent avenue of entrance for the infecting agent, as well as punctures, scratches and cuts received during the autopsy from instruments, spicules of bone, needles, etc. It is particularly dangerous to allow blood, pus or exudates from the peritoneal or thoracic cavity to enter a glove through a hole. A finger or hand so bathed is very likely to develop hair-follicle infections. All wounds received during the autopsy should be allowed to bleed freely, and then should be thoroughly washed in sterile water, alcohol and ether and an antiseptic. Tuberculous warts are very common on the hands of prosectors having a large autopsy service and not using gloves. A generalized tuberculosis may follow. These warts are easily removed by repeated painting with fuming nitric acid, just sufficient to keep the skin yellow. If this treatment fails such warts should be excised. Syphilis has been reported only a few times as due to postmortem infection; but observations tend to show that the spirochætes may remain virulent for several hours (7-24) after death.