I shall deal with acute obstruction of the bowels from a surgical standpoint, for I am convinced that the few cases which recover without operative interference but emphasize its importance. The results of operations for the relief of the various conditions that produce obstruction are all the while improving. These results, however, are not what they should be. The mortality is too great. When physicians come to a full realization of the importance of prompt and active interference, when they become willing to call immediate surgical aid, then will the mortality be reduced still further. So long as we are content to leave the cases to nature, and content ourselves with pumping our patients full of water or air, and giving them all sorts of drastic purgatives, just so long will we send more and more of these unfortunate victims to untimely graves. These are dangerous agents, and as a