The mortality risk of hemorrhage from peptic ulcer has been reported by various observers1as varying from a fraction of 1 per cent to as high as 74 per cent, the last figure reported by Chiesman2in a selected group of recurring hemorrhages. Allen3and Blackford and Cole4reported simultaneously (1937) that in older persons having massive exsanguinating hemorrhage the mortality rate approximated 30 per cent in their hospital practice and that age was the greatest factor influencing mortality. Recent reports of mortality rates of from 1 to 2 per cent for hemorrhage from peptic ulcer when under special medical treatments have been made by Meulengracht,5Andreson6and others; and Hurst7feels that a death in private practice from hemorrhage from ulcer is rare. On the other hand, Hinton,8Goldman,9Crohn10and many others report higher mortality rates, often much