The establishment of the viability of the bowel in cases of strangulated hernia is of great importance in abdominal surgical procedures at the time of operation since resection of the bowel considerably increases the operative hazard. In Frankau's1 series of cases of strangulated hernia immediate resection and anastomosis showed a mortality rate of 42.8 per cent, while in cases in which resection was not done the mortality rate was only 14.7 per cent. In the series of Braun and Wortmann2 the mortality rate associated with resection was 50.4 per cent, while in their cases of strangulated hernia in which resection was not done the mortality rate was only 14.8 per cent. Since the decision concerning the viability of the intestine must be made within a short time after the abdomen is opened, the surgeon often finds himself in a quandary as to whether or not the intestine is