ULCERS of various origin, such as diphtheria, leishmaniasis cutis and tropical ulcers are rather common in the countries of the Near East, but in the years during which we have seen a number of them we have also frequently encountered a special sype which does not fit into any of the aforementioned categories. Its distinction from the aforementioned ulcers is determined by its clinical aspect and by the bacterial flora it presents. In connection with the desert warfare in the Near East the problem has gained particular importance. To characterize the cases which we have seen during the last ten years, it seems to us that the most appropriate term would be "phagedenic ulcer." This denotes a circumscribed inflammation of the skin which may lead to destruction of the entire cutis and subcutis down to the fascia, progressing in waves and on the whole running a chronic course, and occasionally