Atropine and belladonna are frequently prescribed for stomachs with hyperacidity, hypersecretion, hyperperistalsis or spasm. Sixteen years ago I1presented the proposition that the reliance of physicians on these drugs is not justified, the main reasons being that in the doses commonly employed they cannot produce the desired effects and that, in dosage large enough to produce stomach effects, the other actions are too undesirable to permit repeated administrations. These conclusions have been questioned by many able clinicians. The preparations of belladonna commonly employed are the tincture and the extract. Their alkaloids have the action of atropine, a variable fraction of hyoscyamine possibly making the total alkaloids somewhat stronger than atropine. A commonly prescribed dose of the tincture is 0.65 cc. (10 minims), and this is equivalent to 16 mg. (one-fourth grain) of the extract or 0.25 mg. (1/260 grain) of atropine in the form of sulfate. But of the