CLUBBING OF THE FINGEBS has been known since Hippocrates described curved nails in patients with empyema. In 1889 and 1890, Bamberger and Marie independently clarified the entity of hypertrophie osteoarthropathy, and in 1915 Locke linked it with clubbing as a disease entity. The pathologic features have been well described. Although the etiology is still not clear, a recent theory holds that ischemic lung may effect bone and soft-tissue changes by afferent impulses mediated by the vagus nerve. These impulses result in increased peripheral blood flow, peripheral arteriovenous aneurysms, and the clinical and roentgenologic findings of clubbing and hypertrophie osteoarthropathy. The theory of a vagal reflex mechanism is strongly supported by the fact that the symptoms can be dramatically relieved by intrathoracic or cervical vagotomy. The following is an example of a patient treated in this manner. Report of a Case A 17-year-old male was seen in February, 1959, with the