Vital capacity breath and tidal breathing techniques were compared for induction of anaesthesia with 7.5% sevoflurane in nitrous oxide, and oxygen. Thirty five subjects were randomly assigned to a vital capacity breath group (19) or to a tidal breathing group (16). The mean time for induction was faster with vital capacity breath (41 s) than with tidal breathing (52 s, p < 0.05). Some involuntary movements were seen in the tidal breathing group but none in the vital capacity breath group. Coughing was seen in a quarter of the subjects in the tidal breathing group and in one subject of the vital capacity breath group. The vital capacity group showed excellent characteristics: rapid, and pleasant induction without premedication. We conclude that the vital capacity breath technique is necessary for the inhalation induction of anaesthesia; it provides enough overpressure to allow the subject to pass reliably and rapidly through the initial stages of excitement.