AbstractSeveral local anesthetic agents have been tested for their ability to counteract adrenaline‐and noradrenaline‐induced contractions of the spirally cut strip of rabbit aorta. The method used includes a calibrated spiral spring arrangement attached to a conventional strain gauge transducer. This device which is very useful also for several other isolated organs, is described in detail. All the local anesthetics tested possess anti‐adrenaline activity in appropropiate concentrations (1–3 mM), but procaine, mepivacaine and o‐methyl‐α‐propylamino‐propionanilide (L 67) are about 5 times more active than lidocaine and cocaine in this respect. The antagonism is non‐specific in nature and contractions induced by histamine are counteracted in a similar manner. The results are discussed in relation to the known anesthetic properties of the agents. The conclusion is drawn that the non‐specific anti‐adrenaline action varies independently of the local anesthetic effect as measuredin vitroon the isol