Several groups have reported successful control of pain in patients with terminal malignancy by the continuous administration of intravenous morphine sulfate (1-3). More recently this therapy has been shown to be of value in managing patients with postoperative pain (4). This mode of administration is used for more effective pain control in patients with severe pain that cannot be satisfactorily controlled by other means of morphine administration (5). Compared with intermittent intramuscular injection, continuous intravenous infusion offers the advantage of substantially reducing patient discomfort, apprehension, and the ecchymoses that often accompany frequent intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. Sometimes the parenteral route