In this study Caraway's method for the determination of the serum amylase was found useful for a general hospital. The average normal value was 95 units, with a standard deviation of 32 and a standard error of 3.2. A significant difference between mean serum amylase values of hospital patients and those of normal controls was recorded. Sex, age (between 20 and 87 years), meals (within two hours), time of clay, ingestion of coffee, and administration of 10 mg. of morphine sulfate within one hour had no effect on serum amylase.