The proper treatment of severe hæmorrhage from a gastric or duodenal ulcer has always puzzled physicians and surgeons alike. It is probably true that patients very seldom die as the result of a single rapid hæmorrhage, even if severe. There can, however, be no doubt that death due actually to acute anæmia may follow repeated or prolonged hæmorrhage. Hitherto treatment has been conducted mainly on medical lines. Opinion is now, however, tending to favour earlier and more frequent surgical interference, and this can be made a less dangerous procedure by giving a preliminary blood transfusion to improve the patient’s general condition. When the patient’s life is threatened by hæmorrhage repeated or prolonged, transfusion is undoubtedly the best means of saving him. Here again the fear of restarting the hæmorrhage by raising the blood pressure has acted as a deterrent, so that transfusion is apt to be withheld until too late. Nevertheless, it is clear from the numerous cases recorded in the literature that this fear is groundless (130, 215, etc.). The effect of a transfusion on the coagulating power of the patient’s blood more than compensates for the risk attending a rise in blood pressure. Now only is lost blood replaced, but also the clot plugging the damaged vessel is made more secure. The patient is tided over the immediate danger to his life, and surgical treatment is made possible. This view will doubtless meet with much adverse criticism, but its justice will eventually be recognized.