A new technique (M method) immobilizing mice on the filter paper for measuring pilocarpine-induced salivation was developed, and compared with Richter’s (R) and Parkesr’s (P) method in regard to the sensitivity and the variance of salivation and the mortality in mice.

Mice were immobilized by using a small dose (0.5g/kg, s. c.) of urethane and a fixed tray for M method, a large dose (1.8g/kg, s. c.) of urethane for R method and a larg dose (50mg/kg, i. p.) of diazepam for P method.

The degree of activity to the antagonist effect of anticholinergics in three methods was almost the same, but the variance of the measured values which obtained in M method was the lowest and approximately one-half of those obtained in R and P method. The condition of immobilization in M method decreased the acute toxicity of pilocarpine. On the other hand, the condition of immobilization in R and P method remarkably potentiated the toxicity of pilocarpine and reduced the value of LD50 of pilocarpine, showing the high mortality rate over 50 per cent.

From these results, it is concluded that M method is superior to R and P method with respect to low variance of the measured values and low toxicity to mice.