Precision total cross sections and the optical model at intermediate energy

New measurements of neutron total cross sections between 5 MeV and 600 MeV are presented. These data do not provide an adequate basis for the development of an optical model potential, but they certainly can be used to test existing models. This presentation describes preliminary comparisons of theory with experiment for both phenomenological and microscopic models using both the Schroedinger equation and the Dirac equation. These comparisons indicate the need for additional information about the neutron-nucleus interaction at intermediate energy