The experience of self-poisoning in Stracathro Hospital during 1961-70 has been reviewed. The annual incidence among adult medical admissions rose from 0.7% to 3.1%. It involved mainly the young, the female, the urban dweller, & a relatively high proportion of single, divorced or separated subjects, & occurred mainly at weekends. Depression was the common associated psychiatric disorder. Suicide was intended more frequently than is noted in the cities.