In tuberculosis dispensary work in the examination of contact cases, the various skin tuberculin tests have proved of considerable value, particularly in children. Some time ago, Dr. H. W. Hill of the Institute of Public Health here began vaccinating against smallpox by means of puncture with a solid needle through a drop of vaccine. His method was successful, and the detail of the procedure has been reported.1
The cutaneous tuberculin tests have been extensively used in our city dispensary, and it was decided to try the skin test by puncture through a film of tuberculin. After trying a large number of cases side by side with the von Pirquet test and also a number of definite open cases, we have come to the conclusion that the puncture test has many advantages, and we are using it constantly in our work.
For the test, pure undiluted "O. T." is used.