Measurement of atropine-induced vascular pooling.

Postural hypotension resulting from 2 mg. of intramuscular atropine appears to be due to peripheral vascular pooling. Controlled studies on 31 normal adult males are reported here and reveal that external compression of the abdomen and lower extremities allows partial cardiovascular compensation. Simultaneous compression of both legs and abdomen is even more effective in preventing postural hypotension. The effects of 2 mg. of atropine appear to be due to partial vagal block, partial ganglionic block and central excitation.