AbstractReasons for caution in administering drugs to old people are discussed. A survey was made of the records of 33 elderly cardiac patients in a teaching hospital, 30 elderly ambulatory patients in the community, and 30 elderly patients in a geriatric hospital. The findings indicated that prescription practices were somewhat different for the hospital patients than for the community patients, but there did not seem to be any reduction in drug dosage on account of the patient's advanced age.Those who prescribe drugs for geriatric patients have a great responsibility to see that the dosage is correct and that, when the drug has to be self‐administered, the patient is given complete instructions which he can understan