In embolism of the large peripheral arteries, two distinct types of pain may arise. There may be pain at the level of the occlusion of short duration but of maximum severity at the onset of the attack. It merges into and is replaced by late pain of ischemic causation which arises in the distal part of the affected extremity. The late pain differs greatly in character from the early distress, and it is felt that the early pain is probably due to arterial spasm initiated by the embolus. In thrombosis of the large arteries, similar early pain does not arise. Attention has been called to the frequency of spontaneous recovery of the circulation in acute embolic occlusion of the larger arteries of the upper extremity. The final result of treatment of embolic occlusion is largely determined by the severity of the associated primary disease. The results of suction and pressure therapy, in our experience, surpass those of embolectomy. We would agree with Herrmann and Reid and others that more conservative methods of therapy are indicated in the treatment of acute arterial occlusion. It is suggested that the ideal method of treatment for acute arterial occlusion is a combination of the nonoperative methods, namely: suction and pressure therapy, antispasmodic drugs, and heat to the body.