The antirheumatic action of Na gentisate was studied in a small number of patients. It had the same antirheumatic effect as salicylate without some of its disadvantages. In 5 patients with acute rheumatic fever, doses similar to those used for salicylate produced disappearance of pain, swelling, and heat in the joints, and a fall of temp. and of sedimentation rate. In 1 patient, withdrawal of the drug after 3 days was followed in 44 hrs. by a return of acute symptoms which again responded promptly to the drug therapy. Four patients with persistently active rheumatic fever responded similarly to gentisate and salicylate. No untoward effects were observed with 10 g./day except for 1 patient who developed epigastric distress which subsided on withdrawing the drug. No other toxic effects appeared. The increase in urinary glucuronic acid excretion seen with salicylates did not occur with gentisate. Gentisate appears to be rapidly oxidized in the body.