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It is thought that stress, ACTH and adrenal cortical steroids may be involved in the aetiology of peptic ulceration. Previous work has shown that when ACTH is administered in physiological or therapeutic doses it does not increase gastric acid secretion. We therefore have investigated the effect of ACTH (2 u/kg body wt,) on the ‘mucus barrier’. The volume, weight and concentration of the biochemical constituents of canine gastric mucus were measured before, during and after ACTH administration. No uniform effect of ACTH was detected. Our results differ from those of other workers and the reasons for this are discussed.