In 7,174 cases of carcinoma of the rectum which I have compiled, the majority of the patients were elderly, as might be expected: 1,442, from 41 to 50; 2,072, from 51 to 60, and 1,783, from 61 to 70—or almost 75 per cent, at ages from 41 to 70 years. On the other hand, 235 were less than 30, and forty less than 20 years of age. It is the latter group that I shall consider more especially. The proverbial reference to rectal carcinoma in the young is the patient (aged 13 years) of the Allinghams;1but malignant growths in the lower bowel have been found several times in still younger subjects, as well as in some a few years older: for example, 11 years, two; 12 years, five; 13 years, two more; 14 years, three; 15 years, three; 16 years, two, and 17 years, seven. For other organs,