Summary1The mortality rate for all biliary tract surgery for stone should be in the vicinity of 1 per cent., with a lower figure for elective surgery.2Registrar training does not raise operative mortality. It aids in lowering it.3The addition of choledochostomy to cholecystectomy does not elevate the mortality rate.41. Choledochostomy is required so frequently in biliary tract surgery that there is no place for the cholecystectomist who rarely, if ever, performs it.5The removal of all stones in the bile ducts (Lahey's “third stage) has not yet been achieved.6The relating of operation and admission figures to give an operation rate per thousand admissions is worth investigation.7A follow‐up of 951 patients showed that there were certain reliable indications for biliary tract surgery, certain less reliable ones, and some common errors.8During the follow‐up the opportunity was taken to study biliary colic, jaundice and fatty dyspepsia.9An attempt was made to estimate the likelihood of the development of cancer or of symptoms in those with symptomless gall‐stones.10It would appear from this study that undue reliance on Graham's test can result in a cholecystectomy being performed when the only lesion present is a peptic ulcer.11In view of the vague descriptions of the post‐cholecystectomy syndrome in the literature, this review suggests that the post‐cholecystectomy syndrome is made up of these symptoms which the surgeon thought the operation should have removed. The subject is confused.12This study confirms the very old idea that the patient's history i