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The article in Pediatrics for January, 19711 points out that reports of significant cardiac arrhythmias caused by chloral hydrate are rare. This drug has been used regularly as a hypnotic by our pediatric neurology department prior to electroencephalography, and no cardiac complications have ever been noted. In 12 consecutive children undergoing electroencephalography we studied electrocardiographic tracings taken before chioral hydrate was given and after the patient was asleep. The doses of chloral hydrate used in our patients were somewhat higher than those recommended, but we never reached the value considered by the author as toxic.