Chloral hydrate has been used extensively to sedate children, but at Brooke Army Medical Center, other drug combinations were becoming increasingly popular due to a perception that chloral hydrate had a high rate of failure, especially with younger or neurologically impaired children. Therefore, 50 children were given the drug before a diagnostic study, and patient data and a sedation score were recorded on a worksheet. Of 50 children, 43 (86%) were "successfully sedated" on the first attempt with no side effects. Children with neurologic disorders had a much greater (27% vs 4%) failure rate than "normal" children. The sedation rate did not significantly differ by age, sex, or initial drug dosage. The study suggest that chloral hydrate is a safe and effective oral sedative but that children with neurologic disorders may need alternative drugs for sedation.