Copper sulfate in a dose equivalent to 100 mg of copper was administered orally to six young children who came to the outpatient department because of ingestion of substances in toxic amounts. As a control, six other children presenting with the same complaint received 10 to 15 ml of syrup of ipecac. Although vomiting occurred within 5 minutes after administering the copper sulfate, significant elevations of serum copper occurred in each child. Only one of the children receiving ipecac had any rise in serum copper concentration. Because of hazards associated with copper sulfate, its use as an emetic appears questionable.