Several workers ~-~ have already shown that early ambulation and discharge following acute, uncomplicated myocardial infarction does not result in any increase in morbidity and mortality rate. Recently, in a prospective, randomized, controlled investigation in which ambulation after 5 days (with discharge after ! 2 days) was compared with ambulation and discharge on day 13 and day 19 respectively, it was shown that the morbidity and mortality rate was significantly reduced during the year of follow-up, in the early ambulation group and particularly in patients who already had complications of their acute myocardial infarction on admission2 It has also long been known that age has an adverse effect both on the short-term 5 and long-term ~ morbidity and mortality rate of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Thus, in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction who were kept at bed rest for 12 days after admission, there was a 32 per cent complication rate during the first year in those under the age of 60 as opposed to 71 per cent in patients over the age of 60 years. If patients who already had complications on admission were considered, the corresponding figures were 69 per cent and 91 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, if these patients were mobilized early (5 days), then the complication rate averaged 24 per cent, regardlessOf the age of the patient or his state on admissionY Thromboembolic complications seem to be particularly reduced. Of nine patients who suffered from thromboembolic phenomenon, eight were in the late ambulation group {pulmonary embolism four, arterial embolism or thrombosis four) and only one patient had an arterial thromboembolic complication in the group who were mobilized early? It is obvious, that no hard-and-fast rules can be laid down in the management of the individual patient with acute myocardial infarction, and certainly it would be most illogical to mobilize him during the acute phase of any complication that may develop. However, the above studies indicate that age, and the fact that complications had been present, are no contraindication to early mobilization and our policy, as in the studies reported, has been to count the 5 days of bed rest from the first day that the patient's immediate symptoms or complications were satisfactorily treated and under control. Whether 5 days is the optimum period of bed rest is not known and indeed at least one study has shown no ill effects in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction who were mobilized 2 days after their~admission. 8