The prognosis for congenital intestinal obstruction has changed materially since 1927. Prior to this date, authorities were unanimous in predicting an almost uniformly fatal outcome after a brief illness.1In view of the fact that previously only 4 patients were known to have survived, this estimate of the mortality was an understatement. Since that date, reports of increasing numbers of patients successfully treated surgically have led both pediatricians and surgeons to recommend, with some optimism, immediate surgical intervention in cases of congenital obstruction of the bowel. The first successful operations were performed in 1897,21910,31916,419245and 1926.6In 1927 there were reports of a number of similarly fortunate operative results.7Since that year, equally happy reports have appeared at not infrequent intervals. Loitman,7ain 1927, and Webb and Wangensteen,8in 1931, were the first to sound an encouraging note