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From in-vitro and in-vivo studies and from earlier publications the following conclusions may be drawn concerning the pharmacology of suxamethonium. The serum cholinesterase plays a decisive role in the splitting of suxamethonium. With a purified concentrated enzyme preparation (3000 Au) cleavage was proved in vitro. In the case of genetic enzyme variants hydrolysis is diminished. Cbolinesterase-free serum is unable to split suxamethonium. Spontaneous hydrolysis may be neglected; it may play some role in the rare case of anenzymia. In vivo the serum cholinesterase is most inhibited in the third minute after the administration of suxamethonium. Spontaneous respiration recurs as soon as the activity of the serum cholinesterase has returned to its initial value. In the case of extremely low cholinesterase activity the hydrolysis of suxamethonium after a single dose of 50-70 mg is prolonged by a few minutes. A. DOENICKE; ST. SCHMIDINGER; I. KRUMEY (with the support of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; dedicated to Professor Dr. Eugen Werle on his 65th birthday): from the Department of Anaesthesia,

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