The vascular effects and duration of action of two ester-linked local anaesthetics, procaine and amethocaine, and four amide-linked local anaesthetics, cinchocaine, lignocaine, mepivacaine and prilocaine, were investigated in 10 volunteers by intradermal injection using a double-blind technique. Procaine and amethocaine produced marked vasodilatation; weal formation was observed at 80% of the a...