It is important that each physician have clearly in mind measures to be undertaken when faced with the management of acute asthma. Prompt treatment for this medical emergency may indeed prove to be lifesaving. When one is faced with a severe attack of acute asthma, one often has little opportunity to review measures to be undertaken. Also, there may be little opportunity to secure consultation of someone with a particular interest in the management of asthma. This discussion is being limited to the treatment of asthma in the acutely ill patient. There are fewer differences of opinion here, whereas in the long-term management of asthma many divergent attitudes exist. Objectives in Treatment The main objective in the treatment of asthma is to achieve prompt and lasting relief from the paroxysm of respiratory distress. For first consideration then is the relief of acute bronchospasm. When bronchospasm has been relieved, one then