The fields of eight X‐ray sources in the Magellanic Clouds believed to be Be/X‐ray binaries have been searched for possible Be‐star counterparts. BVRc and Hα CCD imaging was employed to identify early‐type emission stars through colour indices and Hα fluxes. Spectroscopy of five sources confirms the presence of Hα emission in each case. Based on the positional coincidence of emission‐line objects with the X‐ray sources, we identify Be‐star counterparts to the ROSAT sources RX J0032.9‐7348, RX J0049.1‐7250, RX J0054.9‐7226 and RX J0101.0‐7206, and to the recently discovered ASCA source AX J0051‐722. We confirm the Be star nature of the counterpart to the HEAO1 source H0544‐66. In the field of the ROSAT source RX J0051.8‐7231 we find that there are three possible counterparts, each showing evidence for Hα emission. We find a close double in the error circle of the EXOSAT source EXO 0531.1‐6609, each component of which could be a Be star associated with the X‐ray source.

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We report on two optical candidates for the counterpart to an X‐ray source in the Small Magellanic Cloud, 1WGA J0053.8−7226, identified as a serendipitous X‐ray source from the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) archive, and also observed by the Einstein Imaging Proportional Counter. Its X‐ray properties, namely the hard X‐ray spectrum, flux variability and column density, indicate a hard, transient source, with a luminosity of ∼XTE and ASCA observations have confirmed the source to be an X‐ray pulsar, with a 46‐s spin period. Our optical observations reveal two possible candidates within the error circle. Both exhibit strong Hα and weaker Hβ emission. The optical colours indicate that both objects are Be‐type stars. The Be nature of the stars implies that the counterpart is most likely a Be/X‐ray binary system. Subsequent infrared (IR) photometry (JHK) of one of the objects shows that the source varies by at least 0.5 mag, while the measured nearly simultaneously with the UBVRI and spectroscopic observations indicate an IR excess of ∼0.3 mag.

Remifentanil 3 micrograms/kg and propofol 2 mg/kg co-administered intravenously may reliably provide adequate conditions for tracheal intubation in healthy patients without neuromuscular relaxants. This combination of drugs may allow the rapid return of spontaneous ventilation.

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The haemodynamic effects of rocuronium and vecuronium are different under balanced anaesthesia. Rocuronium may attenuate the fall in MAP that often occurs under balanced anaesthesia without surgical stimulation.