[Reservoir of tuberculosis infection]

"The reservoir of tuberculous infection" is shown to imply a wider concept than does "the size of bacteria-isolating contingents". It includes a potential reservoir (the population that is infected but not the patients with tuberculosis) and an active one (undetected and detected patients with this disease). To reduce the total incidence of tuberculosis in the population, continuous work as to the potential reservoir should be done, by vigorously detecting those with early-stage disease. Work associated with identification of only those who isolate abundant bacteria and with their abacillation must not be recognized effective in reducing overall morbidity and improving an epidemiological situation as it is directed only against a small portion of an infection reservoir.