This study was undertaken because of the difference of opinion which prevails as to what constitutes D'Espine's sign, and because of my impressions that D'Espine's sign is much less often present in the children of the well-to-do than in those of the hospital class, and that, when present in children of this class, it is in a considerable proportion of the cases not a manifestation of tuberculous infection. Six hundred and sixty-six patients, seen in my consultation and office practice during the last three years, form the basis of this study. These children were consecutive, except when for some reason they were unable, or unwilling, to talk, or when, through some oversight, a test was either not made or no record kept of it. The sign was tried for simply as part of the routine physical examination, and at the time the tests were made I had no intention of