The mortality rate & causes of death of chronic alcoholics who had received treatment for alcoholism were investigated in a consecutive series of 802 patients admitted between 1959-1963 to the alcoholic treatment unit of the University of Cape Town & Groote Schuur Hospital. 95 subjects died within 6 years of their first admission (86 males, 9 females). Suicide accounted for 11 deaths & was suspected in a further 4 cases. Only 1 of the suicides was a female. (14 refs.)