Salbutamol was administered intravenously to 14 patients in premature labour. Inhibition of uterine contractions occurred on 22 out of 23 occasions. The mean increase in maternal and fetal heart rate and blood pressure were within clinically acceptable limits but there were wide individual variations. The mean delay achieved when the intravenous regime was supplemented with oral salbutamol was greater than that achieved by intravenous salbutamol alone, but the difference was not statistically significant.