SummaryThe literature on this subject has been reviewed. A personal series of 18 patients more than 50 years of age, treated by major operations for ulcerative disease of the large bowel, has been presented, and the deaths occurring in this group have been discussed. Attention has been called previously to the insidious and lethal nature of this disease. These observations have been corroborated by this study. The importance of early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management has been emphasized.