The treatment before this has been surgical, in which the diseased parts were carefully removed, and where this was impossible, even castration (removal of the testicle) was performed. Without doubt Koch's method will cause great changes in the method of treatment here also. Finally we must include in our reflection the well-known disease of children, _scrofula_. Although the same is not a form of tuberculosis in the sense of the diseases just considered, still tuberculosis and scrofula have the most intimate relations. Scrofula is only too often a precursory stage of tuberculosis. The manifold scrofulous affections, such as inflamed eyes, diseased ears, skin diseases, catarrh of the nose, pharynx or bronchials, inflammation of the joints and suppuration are not caused through the cooperation of tubercle-bacilli. But here the same find an excellent soil for growth and propagation, and they use the same to the full extent and so give the impetus for the development of tuberculosis. Scrofula is one of the most frequent diseases, it is spread over the whole world. It occurs more seldom in the tropics than in the north. Furthermore it is more frequent in a cold and damp climate than in a dry one. Elevation has no influence on the development of this disease. Scrofulous individuals are found in the mountains as well as in the plains. Scrofula principally attacks children; it occurs most frequently in the time from the second to the fifteenth year. Rarely earlier developed scrofula drags beyond the age of puberty or more advanced manhood. Sex has no particular influence on the development of scrofula. In many cases this particular disease is _inherited_. The following causes are considered in the inheritance of scrofula: great age, close relationship and infirmity of the parents; but the germ of scrofula is planted in the child by parents that are themselves afflicted with tuberculosis or scrofula. This is most frequently observed in children that have descended from parents, who were scrofulous in their youth and remained so, or that became tuberculous later on and at the time of generation were afflicted by advanced scrofula or tuberculosis, or that were suffering from oft-treated but never entirely cured syphilis. Some scientists claim to have observed the inheritance of scrofula by children, whose parents at the time of generation were afflicted with tuberculosis or were suffering from general debility resulting from hunger and want. In the majority of cases scrofula is acquired, as a rule the development of this disease is favored by indigence and poor hygienic conditions according to the coinciding experience of all scientists; _nutrition_, especially in the first year of life, has the greatest influence on the origin of scrofula.