This book is divided into two sections: one on environment, the other on resistance. The first section—that on environment—is the revision of an address delivered in 1920 and published in the American Review of Tuberculosis in the same year. It was originally prepared as part of a symposium on the topic "The Basic Cause of Breakdown with Tuberculosis: Is it Malnutrition? Is it Heredity? Is it Environment?" The study of environment as an etiologic and determining factor in the development or progress of tuberculosis in an individual or community is discussed from the standpoint of nutrition, hygiene, occupation, family and social status, influence of trauma, intercurrent disease, both acute and chronic, political and racial environment, etc.
The major portion of the test is devoted to the subject of "Resistance," and, likewise, is an elaboration of several addresses on "The Nature of Resistance to Tuberculosis," all of which have been published