ONE HUNDRED patients with nonpenetrating abdominal injury resulting in rupture of the spleen were encountered in the teaching hospitals of the University of Alberta Medical School in a period of nine years, 1955 to 1963, inclusive. During the same period penetrating injury due to gunshot wounds and stabbing caused splenic damage on only three occasions, making a percentage of penetrating compared with nonpenetrating of only 2.9. Calamel et al1 from Denver report five penetrating injuries out of 41 cases for a percentage of 12.1. Byrne2 of Los Angeles reports 25 of 101 cases for a percentage of 25.0, while Terry et al3 report 48 of 100 cases (48.0%) in Houston. Etiology In the 100 patients with nonpenetrating injury resulting in splenic rupture, a blow accounted for 18. A fall on the ice or from a fence, ladder, or a horse, accounted for 24. The automobile was the