The authors used an intravenous injection of one and one half grains of sodium amytal, administered rapidly, as a test for determining the 'nonorganic' origin of many symptoms. They found that patients who complained of headaches, migraine, backaches, dysmenorrhea, and gastrointestinal symptoms were temporarily relieved of their complaints by this method. The authors therefore believe that this procedure may be considered a valuable diagnostic measure for determining the presence of psychogenic tensions. They claim that patients resistant to psychotherapy are easy to convince after this test. They conclude that this procedure should be used only to supplement thorough physical and psychiatric investigation. In their report, however, the cases used for illustration were given neither a thorough physical nor psychiatric examination.