Cancer patients frequently require parenteral hydration because of chronic nausea or dysphagia before death. This letter reports the experience of 17 patients who were given fluids by the rectal route because of dehydration due to advanced cancer. After obtaining patient consent, a 22 French nasogastric catheter was inserted about 40 cm into the rectum and an infusion of normal saline or tap water was started at 100 mL/hr by a physician and a nurse. The mean (SD) daily volume, hourly rate and duration of infusion were 1035 (150) mL, 224 (58) mL/hr, and 14 (8) days respectively. The total daily volume of infusion was modified by the physician or the nurse according to the patient's hydration (turgor of the skin, sweating, thirst, volume of urine). A visual analogue or comfort scale (0-100) was completed by all patients (mean (SD) score: 17 (12)). Results suggest that proctoclysis is simple and inexpensive and can be implemented by non-professionals in the home. This technique could be useful for patients with contraindications to or technical difficulties in hypodermoclysis or intravenous hydration. Proctoclysis might be especially useful in rural areas or developing countries where the availability of sterile solutions, supplies and nursing care may be limited.