The physician faced with the care of a patient with severe sickle cell anemia, with its characteristic hemolytic jaundice, recurrent attacks of pains in the muscles and joints, abdominal symptoms, ulcers of the legs, fever and increased susceptibility to intercurrent infections, is likely, after the usual antianemic measures have failed, to give serious consideration to any procedure which offers hope of benefit. Splenectomy,1 first suggested by Sydenstricker on the basis of the similarity of the disease to congenital hemolytic icterus, has been given a prominent place in the literature as a means of treatment. The results of the removal of the spleen have been reported in seven instances.2 All the splenectomies have been performed on children. The trend of opinion in regard to the procedure is optimistic, and one is likely to be impressed by the enthusiastic claims for surgical cure. The negative or unfavorable results and contraindications