The Mallory-Weiss syndrome is a more common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding than that previously recognised. Personal experience is reported of twelve cases of Mallory-Weiss tear, constituting 6.4% of all cases of upper gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage observed in the three year period from 1984 to 1986. History of alcoholism was present in 50% and hiatus hernia was associated in 41% of all the cases. Ten patients (84%) were managed nonoperatively, two patients underwent operation. None of the twelve patients in this series died. The literature of the last few years, is reviewed with particular reference to progress in the treatment of the syndrome.