We prove that while the total cross{}-section is bounded by (π/mπ2)ln2s, where s is the square of the c.m. energy and mπ the mass of
the pion, the total inelastic cross{}-section is bounded by (1/4)(π/mπ2)ln2s, which is 4 times smaller. We discuss the implications of this result
on the total cross{}-section itself.Comment: 9 pages. Corrected minor typo