Local effects produced on intact skin by epicutaneously applied anaesthetic formulations. An experimental study in man.

By means of experiments involving pin-pricking, compositions containing 10% ketocaine base in a mixture of 2-propanol, glycerol and water were found to produce a high frequency of block to cutaneous pain following application to volunteers under an occlusive dressing. The local analgesic efficacy was found to be directly related to the degree of saturation of ketocaine in the vehicle and time of application. The degree of hyperaemia observed in the treated skin areas was found to be related to the degree of local analgesia produced.