1. In cases of massive haematemesis and melaena. In some cases, death is almost certain unless a hazardous gastrectomy is performed on a near moribund patient. At such times the surgeon's aim must be at the goal of a low mortality for haematemesis, and it is not the time to think in terms of a low mortality for any particular operation. Therefore in considering the mortalitv of gastrectomy, it clarifies the position if we consider it under various headings according to the lesion treated, and consider emergency resections separately. Taking my personal operative mortalities since 1941, when the sulphonamide drugs which were potent against pneumonia first came into wider use, the figures are as follows