SUMMARY A comparison is made by means of a “double blind” trial of three different drugs used for the premedication of children undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Four hundred and fifty-eight cases were investigated. Atropine was given by mouth and proved to be quite satisfactory in drying up the secretions. Some of the difficulties experienced in conducting a blind trial are described. The qualities that make up the ideal drug are discussed, together with some of the results reported by others. Among younger children, and when an inhalation induction is used, trimeprazine tartrate in the form of “Vallergan Forte” was considered to be the drug of choice.