In previous communications, the decline and the duration of the tensile strength of surgical gut (catgut) in the tissues1 and in acidpepsin solution2 were reported. An important aspect of absorption of surgical gut is the length of time required for complete absorption after the loss of useful holding power in the tissues. Bates3 made observations on the absorption of the plain and the chromic catgut of various sizes of one manufacturer. Bower, Burns and Mengle4 carried out studies on the absorption of two different sizes of catgut of another manufacturer. These experimental studies were made over relatively short periods and were not necessarily designed to follow the ultimate fate of the catgut. It has been observed clinically at secondary operations through healed incisions that chromic catgut of some varieties may sometimes be readily identified months after it was originally placed in the wound. Also, it has