From January 1960 to December 1966, 50 cases of poisoning were admitted to A.I.I.M.S. Hospital, New Delhi. The commonest cause of poisoning in adults was barbiturate ingestion & in children kerosene oil. The male, female ratio was 3:1. The cases of barbiturate poisoning belonged to average middle class families. The cases of kerosene oil poisoning were from families with poor socioeconomic status. Data on age, sex, socioeconomic status, symptomatology & treatment are analyzed.