CONCERNING THE ACTION OF LOCAL ANESTHETICS ON STRIATED MUSCLE

1. The action of a large number of anesthetics was studied on excised skeletal muscles of the frog and the rat. 2. It was found that all of the substances studied depressed the excitability and the contractility of striated muscle, and caused a quicker onset of fatigue. 3. No primary stimulating effect was noted after the exhibition of even very small doses of cocain or other local anesthetics. 4. Of the decomposition products of cocain, ecgonin was found to be a powerful depressant, while benzoyl ecgonin was only very slightly depressant in its action, and sodium benzoate and methylalcohol produced practically no effect. 5. The stimulating effect of cocain on muscular work cannot, therefore, be due to its peripheral action on the muscles themselves, but must be ascribed to a central action.