RUPTURE of the mitral chordae tendineae, until recent years, has remained a medical curiosity and conversational material at clinical pathological conferences. With development of open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, surgical repair is now feasible. Mitral insufficiency may result from distortion of the mitral leaflet by ruptured chordae tendineae with loss of the normal valve restraining mechanism. The following communication presents a case of ruptured chordae secondary to subacute bacterial endocarditis with associated mitral insufficiency diagnosed preoperatively, and successfully corrected. Report of a Case The patient is a 38-year-old Caucasian female who was admitted on Nov 23, 1962 with the history of right parascapular pain. She had a dilatation and curettage performed because of menorrhagia in December, 1961. Because of persistent menorrhagia a hysterectomy was performed in October, 1962. During the course of her hospitalization she was examined by several physicians; no cardiac abnormalities were discovered. She had an uneventful