The first edition of this atlas appeared in 1939 and was immediately received as an excellent volume in the teaching of surgical techniques. Cutler and Zollinger, teacher and pupil in the 1930's, shared equally in the preparation of the first edition. The volume was but one expression of Cutler's desire to make available to students and house staff, who were dearer to him than any professional associate, the visual description of the usual and the unusual surgical procedures. The second and third editions have been the responsibility of Zollinger, whose interest in the surgeon-to-be is as apparent as was that of his teacher. Although I have never performed any more extensive surgery than to lance a boil in the preantibiotic days, I, too, was interested in the earlier editions as excellent teaching volumes. The third edition, extensively revised, maintains the high standards set.