During the last few years the consideration of aseptic methods for the anastomosing of the large bowel has received a new impetus. Undoubtedly, the late Dr. W. S. Halsted was chiefly responsible for the eagerness and enthusiasm with which the problem was attacked in this country, and it is due directly to his influence that numerous ingenious methods have been devised. However, one striking feature of all the reports on the various procedures employed is that the anatomic control of the method has received either no attention or, at best, only scant attention. As a rule, the investigators have been satisfied with their method when they have found that their animals survived the operation. It is the purpose of this report to bring together some of the anatomic data bearing on the process of the healing of anastomoses of the large bowel in general, rather than to detail the results