Rates of Flow of barium meal into the bowel and ease of swallowing a barium meal and foaming agent were investigated according to the procedure of administration, in order to study the timing of adding the foaming agent. In group medical examinations, the flow rates of barium meals of 100 examinees given a barium meal followed by a foaming agent were compared with those of the same examinees given the foaming agent first. Parasympatholytic agents were not administered in this study. When the foaming agent was given before the barium meal, the flow rate of the barium meal into the bowels was 44.0%. In contrast, when the foaming agent was given after the barium meal, the rate was 78.0%. A total of 67.3% of 101 Volunteers given the foaming agent and the barium meal twice in the reverse order answered that it was easier to swallow the barium meal first. When a parasympatholytic agent is not given, it is better to give the foaming agent first, even though it is more difficult to swallow the barium meal after the foaming agent, because it is most important in examination of the stomach that the barium meal does not flow out into the bowel.
