G. K., a white man, aged 22, was admitted complaining of severe pain in the upper right abdomen, with pain about the umbilical region and lower right quadrant. There had been moderate attacks of pain along the whole right side of the abdomen for two weeks. The day before admission, the patient was seized with a sudden violent pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen just below the costal margin, which bent him double and nearly caused him to faint. He had been constantly nauseated, and for the past two days had been vomiting everything he had eaten. He had kept the bowels open with laxatives. A previous history of some indigestion had been obtained, but no constipation, vomiting or urinary disturbance had been present. The temperature was 97.4 F., the pulse 90, and the respiration 24. The temperature rose to 99 in twelve hours. The patient was well nourished, slight, but in general good condition.