WE HAVE made a retrospective study of the records of one thousand patients who had undergone cholecystectomy. The surgical procedures were carried out in a community hospital of 350 beds by five general surgeons from 1955 through 1966. This study seeks important factors involving diagnosis as contained in the history, physical examination, laboratory and x-ray examinations. An analysis is made of the operative procedures, subsequent histological examination of the surgical specimen, the postoperative complications, and mortality. Factors in the History Age and Sex. —The age range is from 15 to 81 years, with the mean age of 52 years. The greatest incidence is in the fourth and fifth decades. Only 21% of the patients are men. The number of cases each year gradually increased from 56 in 1955 to 142 in 1966. This is probably due to hospital and medical staff expansion, but an actual increase in incidence cannot be