SURGICAL literature during the past few years reflects the growing interest in the occurrence of occluding arterial emboli and their surgical removal by embolectomy. While all the reports do not record a successful outcome of operative interference, their value lies in directing attention to the clinical aspects of obstructing emboli and to the possibilities of prompt surgery. Concerning the latter, Pem-berton1 has very aptly stated, in a recent article : ' ' There is no established operative procedure of equal simplicity, fraught with so little risk and with such dramatic potentialities, that has been so woefully neglected as embolectomy for circulatory disturbances of the extremities."In this article, we wish to review briefly the conditions which underlie the occurrence of arterial emboli and to report a case which illustrates at one time the possibilities of operation and the futility of attempting to bring this type of case to a successful outcome. We are reporting our case in some detail in order to emphasize the clinical aspects.The patient, a woman of 62, had always considered herself well. She had had no infectious diseases except those of childhood. Four years before, she had developed diabetes.This had been well treated by her home physician. Two years before she had noted a small mass in the right lobe of the thyroid. There were no apparent signs of toxicity until about six months before entrance. At this time she noted palpitation, pounding of her heart, dyspnoea on slight exertion, emotional instability and a subjective sensation of heart. She had lost 12 pounds in weight during this time. A basal metabolism taken at her home city, showed a rate of +30. X-ray treatment had been given without improvement.Examination showed a woman of 62 obviously severely thyrotoxic. Both lobes of the thyroid were involved in a nodular enlargement with an adenoma of the right lobe eight cm. in diameter, the lower half of which extended below the clavicle. Examination of the heart showed no definite abnormality. The blood pressure was 180/80. After seven days' careful preparation, including care of the diabetic condition, which was mild, right first stage hemithyroidectomy was done. She made an excellent recovery and was discharged 12 days later to her home physician with instructions to return after an interval of six weeks for completion of the operation. At the end of this period she returned. During the interval she had had transient edema of the *From the Lahey Clinic and New England Deaconess Hospital. \s=d\Mason\p=m-\Surgeon, Polyclinic, Memphis, Tennessee. Warren\p=m-\ Pathologist, New England Deaconess Hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, et al. For records and addresses of authors see "This Week's Issue", page 1171.legs and her pulse showed heart fibrillation at times. These features were well treated by her home physician, however, and when she came to the hospital she showed definite improvement over her previous condition. She had gained weight, was sugar free and subjectively felt quite well. After fi...