Ten infants and children suspected of pulmonary tuberculosis were submitted to lung puncture in an effort to recover tubercle bacilli. From eight infants the organisms were recovered on culture or guinea pig inoculation, and were identified on smear in seven of the eight immediately. Bronchial aspirates, performed in five of these eight patients, were positive in four. Gastric washings from the eight patients positive by lung puncture were negative in all but two. No complications consequent to lung puncture were seen. This preliminary study suggests that lung puncture may be a safe diagnostic procedure which offers increased likelihood of recovering the organism. In addition, a more rapid diagnosis may be made because of a high rate of positive stained smears.