THE LOCAL ANESTHETIC PROPERTIES OF CINNAMYLEPHEDRINE

¹ From the Laboratory of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine

1. Cinnamylephedrine (d, l, and dl) is about ten times as potent a surface anesthetic as cocaine when tested by the rabbit's cornea method. Irritation occurs when concentrations of one per cent or greater are used.

2. When tested by the human intradermal wheal method, cinnamylephedrine (d, l, and dl) is about twenty times as potent as procaine. The compound is somewhat irritating and causes an erythema which persists from twelve to twenty-four hours.

3. One per cent cinnamylephedrine (d, l, and dl) is capable of blocking the motor nerve of the frog.

4. Cinnamylephedrine (d and l) produces spinal anesthesia in frogs, being slightly more active than procaine in this respect.

5. l-Cinnamylephedrine is about one-half as toxic for mice as the d- form.