This study is of the results of surgical management of bleeding chronic peptic ulceration at Prince Henry's Hospital, retrospective for the periods 1951 to 1960 and 1961 to 1970 and prospective for 1972 to 1977. During the latter five years all patients were admitted from the community to a haematemesis and melaena unit with a defined policy of management and prospective data recording for computer analysis. There was a continuing improvement in mortality over this 25-year period, especially with duodenal ulcer. No clear distinction could be made between conservative surgery and partial gastrectomy in terms of reduced surgical mortality in duodenal ulcer. Bleeding gastric ulcer remains a difficult problem, with a current surgical mortality of 21%.