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Some danger seems to exist in leaving secobarbital (seconal®), and presumably other capsuled barbiturate preparations, in contact with mucous membrane. In the past two years I have been twice called between 12:00 and 2: 00 A. M. by physicians. In the first instance it was reported that a capsule was lodged in the patient's throat; in the second instance reported, a foreign body, fish bone, was present. Examination of the first patient disclosed a marked swelling of an arytenoid cartilage. There was marked edema on this region. No capsule could be seen. In the second instance it seemed peculiar that the foreign-body sensation of the fish bone should come on so long after the meal. Examination revealed a moderate swelling and edema of the right arytenoid and a pooling of the fluids in the region of the right pyriform sinus. Further questioning accidentally elicited the fact that secobarbital had been