The author believes that the vascular spasm does not play any part in the occurrence of functional ileus in peritonitis. Humoral factors, such as the loss of electrolytes and serotonin, which is of a specific mediatory effect upon the intestine in particular, are by far more important. It seems that some other humoral factors, e.g. bacterial toxins and endotoxins, formed during the inflammatory process, play their part too. The article is published for purposes of discussion in connection with the paper by Yu. L. Shal'kov. a coll. (Vestnik Khirurgii, 1976, N 4, p. 55).