Minaxolone citrate, a new water-soluble steroid intravenous anaesthetic, has been compared with Althesin as an induction agent and subsequently intermittently supplemented by nitrous oxide and oxygen alone for anaesthesia for short surgical procedures. Short term recovery following Minaxolone was significantly slower than after Althesin, but 1 h after the end of anaesthesia, no differences could be detected between the two groups of patients. Minaxolone, given by intravenous increments to supplement nitrous oxide following an induction dose of 0.5 mg/kg, appears to provide satisfactory anaesthesia for short surgical procedures.