Moricca''s technique of pituitary injection of alcohol was performed 155 times in 92 patients. There were 4 postoperative deaths within the 1st wk. The technique is considered to be an exceedingly useful method of relieving pain in patients with widespread inoperable cancer. Forty percent of the patients treated had complete relief of pain, half of these (20%) having complete relief for at least 4 mo. Thirty percent of the patients treated had some relief of pain and 30% had none. Myodil injected before alcohol spread along the pituitary stalk and walls of the 3rd ventricle. It eventually broke through into the 3rd ventricle. Alcohol follows this route and relief of pain is due to destruction of thalamic and hypothalamic nerve pathways.