F. S. Eve (_The Lancet_, January 28th, 1888), relates the case of a
Jewish child, in whom, six weeks following the usual rite, a small
swelling appeared in each groin. They were found to be filled with
caseous material, which, upon being inoculated beneath the skin of
guinea pigs, gave rise to tuberculosis in the latter. The “Mohl,” or
person performing the rite, had ejected some wine from his mouth over
the cut surfaces of the prepuce. It was subsequently learned that this
person had died of pulmonary consumption shortly afterwards. Another
child in the same house, operated upon by the same person, suffered from
the same infection. Both children finally recovered.
Similar experiences have been recorded by Eisenberg (Berlin Med. Woch.,
No. 35, 1886), and Meyer (Centralblatt f. Chirurgie, No. 46, 1887). Of
greater importance, because of a probably greater frequency, is the
transmission of syphilis in this manner. A group of cases of this kind
were recently collected and made the subject of study at the London
Hospital.