1. Following single oral dosing of ampicillin, cephalexin, tetracycline, erythromycin estolate, clindamycin and rifampicin to six normal volunteers, antibacterial activity was measured at 1, 3 and 6 h in serum, gingival fluid and minor gland saliva from all subjects and in parotid and submandiabular saliva from three. 2. pH values of all gingival fluid and saliva specimens were noted. 3. Partition coefficients between n‐octanol and water were measured for erythromycin, clindamycin and rifampicin. Published data were used for ampicillin, cephalexin and tetracycline. 4. All antibiotics, but particularly rifampicin, were detected in gingival fluid. Only rifampicin and to a lesser degree, clindamycin were present in the other salivary constituents. 5. In studies of secretion of drugs in saliva, both the physico‐chemical characteristics of the drugs and the physiological differences between individual salivary components should be considered. 6. Parotid saliva samples are likely to be of greatest value.

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SUMMARY Three patients with active acromegaly and salivary gland enlargement are described. Detailed studies of flow rate, the biochemistry of the saliva from both the parotid and submandibular salivary glands, sialography and isotope scanning of the glands showed no significant abnormality in function. The literature is reviewed and it would appear that enlargement of the submandibular salivary glands in acromegaly is a relatively common clinical finding although it is not widely known.