1. The cases of six Chinese children affected by so-called congenital fibrosis of the vastus intermedius muscle are described. The reasons for the choice of name are discussed.

2. Reasons for early operation are put forward: in young children simple division of the tendon of the vastus intermedius is adequate.

3. With increasing age severe changes in all the joint tissues occur, notably in the articular cartilage of the patella. These changes are likely to vitiate the result after operation.

4. The importance of getting as much flexion as possible in children of Asiatic race is stressed.

The following preliminary conclusions seem possible.

1. In early cases of Pott's disease of the thoracic spine in children the treatment should include chemotherapy, recumbency and costo-transversectomy. An exception may be made if severe destruction has led to subluxation of the column, when more radical surgery is indicated.

2. Combination of conservative treatment with costo-transversectomy can prevent spread of the disease along the vertebral column, and can lead to regression of this "spondylitis anterior."

3. The abscess can be totally eradicated and the risk of recrudescence therefore diminished.