The roentgen features of obstruction of the small intestine were described by Schwarz (19) in 1911. He employed a bismuth mixture which was administered orally and recorded the following observations in four cases: dilatation of the small intestinal loops, exaggeration of Kerkring's folds, fluid levels capped with gas, and delay in the motor function of the small intestine. The value of the scout film of the abdomen, without the use of a contrast medium, in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction has been emphasized by Stierlin (21), Marcuse (13), Case (4), Kloiber (10), and others. Less attention has been given to the specific lesions producing partial obstruction of the small bowel and the criteria for their diagnosis by x-ray examination. It is the purpose of this presentation to describe the changes which, in our experience, have been found of value in the study of conditions of this nature. The complaints in partial obstruction of the small intestine are well established. Briefly, these include crampy abdominal pain unrelieved by food or medication, a change in bowel habit, localized tenderness to palpation, slight swelling of the abdomen, nausea, anorexia, and gaseous eructations. Localized tenderness to palpation is a frequent complaint, and some patients obtain relief of pain following gentle massage of the tender area. The physical findings in partial obstruction are also well known and need no elaboration here. Palpation may reveal a small area of localized tenderness, and occasionally a small mass may be identified. Dundon (6), in a review of 18 cases of malignant tumor of the small intestine, noted that a mass was palpable in 8 patients. In the cases studied here, tenderness has been a constant observation and has been localized to the point of obstruction irrespective of the nature of the lesion. Roentgen Methods of Study Morse and Cole (14) described a standard technic of examination of the small intestine, employing an oral barium mixture and serial film studies. Subsequent modifications have produced many variations in their method. Golden (8) uses 120 gm. of barium sulfate in 4 to 5 oz. of normal saline, obtaining films at half-hour intervals for five to six hours, with fluoroscopy and spot radiographs as indicated for the study of suspected anatomical variations. Weber and Kirklin (25) use equal parts of barium and water, with frequent roentgenoscopic and spot-film studies. They permit food and water as soon as the stomach is empty, to stimulate peristalsis and to accelerate the passage of barium through the small intestine. Other variations in technic have been described by Åkerlund (2), Pansdorf (15), and Hodges et al. (9). Recently, Weintraub and Williams (27) described a rapid method of small bowel examination employing a mixture of barium and cold normal saline in order to decreasethe transit time. With the advent of stomach and small intestinal tubes, a variety of technics was developed.