1. 1. In dissections of fifty adult, thoroughly fixed cadavers, the vagus nerves passed from the posterior aspects of the lung roots to the sides of the esophagus in two to five trunks on each side. 2. 2. These trunks descended obliquely, branching and anastomosing, the left passing to the anterior and left lateral aspect of the esophagus and the right to the posterior and right posterolateral aspect of the esophagus. 3. 3. There were several branches passing from the right or posterior complex downward anteriorly to join the anterior complex, and one or more branches passing posteriorly to the esophagus and downward from the anterior complex to join the posterior complex, these branches serving to render the lateral limits of the two complexes indefinite. 4. 4. Passing through the esophageal hiatus in seven specimens there were single anterior and posterior gastric nerves; in four specimens, one anterior and two posterior nerves; in thirteen specimens, one posterior and two anterior nerves; in seven instances, two anterior and two posterior nerves; in ten specimens, three or more anterior and one posterior nerves; and in nine specimens, three or more anterior and two or more posterior nerves. 5. 5. Subdiaphragmatically, the anterior nerve(s) split close to the hiatus into left and right terminal branches. The left branches split off to the left and were distributed to the anterior gastric wall, the fibers running perpendicularly to the axis of the stomach as do the branches of the principal nerve of the lesser curvature. The right branches consisted of one or more branches running through the lesser omentum to the liver, the principal nerve of the lesser curvature and one or more running along the lesser curvature to the incisura with branches of the left gastric artery. 6. 6. Subdiaphragmatically, the largest branch of the posterior gastric nerve(s) terminated in the celiac ganglion, other branches following the lesser curvature and all branches being distributed to the posterior aspect of the stomach perpendicularly to its axis, the branches arising from 1 to 2 cm. below the hiatus caudad. 7. 7. In 76 per cent of dissections nerve trunks passed caudad for variable distances between fibers of the longitudinal muscle layers of the esophagus, and in 22 per cent of specimens one or more trunks passed through the esophageal hiatus in this fashion. 8. 8. In all instances in which more than one trunk passed through the hiatus anteriorly, dissection along the largest anterior trunk 5 cm. above the hiatus and 2.5 cm. below revealed communicating rami to the less obvious trunks also passing through the hiatus anteriorly. More than one trunk passed through the hiatus anteriorly in 78 per cent of cases. 9. 9. Throughout the dissections the posterior gastric nerve(s) showed less variation than the anterior nerve(s) at the hiatus, being located in 96 per cent of specimens between the posterior midline of the esophagus and the right border; and if present as two trunks, these usually were no more than 0.4 cm. apart at the level of the hiatus. 10. 10. Anterior gastric nerve trunks could not be so dependably localized, being somewhere on the anterior aspect of the esophagus at the hiatus, although the largest trunk in 80 per cent of specimens was situated somewhere between the anterior midline and left border of the esophagus. 11. 11. Complete vagotomy can be accomplished only by stripping the esophagus (and upper stomach in subdiaphragmatic approaches) of all obvious nerve trunks and adventitious tissue down to the outer longitudinal muscle layer over a distance of not less than 8 cm. 12. 12. It is believed that vagotomy is technically feasible through the abdomen. This approach offers the advantages of simultaneous exploration of the abdominal viscera, examination of the ulcer-bearing area and easy performance of drainage operations or revisions of previous operations.