Summary Two cases of haemobilia due to haemorrhagic cholecystitis are presented; only 28 other cases have been described. As there are so many more dramatic causes and treatment for haemobilia it is important for the surgeon to recognize that a common operation will suffice for this rare condition. In both cases bacteria were grown from the bile and it is to be hoped that bile culture will be recorded more commonly in future in cases of this interesting condition.