An in vitro method for automatically measuring muscle contraction force has been demonstrated in a study of the effects of the inhalation anesthetic halothane followed by calcium chloride or magnesium sulfate on isolated guinea pig left atrial muscle. An automated computer-controlled system was used to collect muscle contraction force waveforms and to analyze contraction waveforms for comparison of variables before and after drug administration. Two concentrations of halothane (0.5 and 1.5%) were administered to the atrial preparation for 30 minutes and followed by calcium chloride or magnesium sulfate. Six variables (latency, time to peak tension, peak tension, maximum rate of change of pressure, force time integral, and relaxation time) were automatically determined from averaged stimulus-response curves. Results were normalized and compared with controls administered only calcium and magnesium and with controls administered no drugs. The automated system greatly simplified data collection and accumulation and statistical analysis of multiple responses. The system made possible averaging and analysis of more data with less variability than is normally obtained with manual systems. The results confirm several known actions of these agents. Halothane prolongs latency (9 and 21% for 0.5 and 1.5% halothane, respectively) and shortens time to peak tension (6 and 17% for 0.5 and 1.5% halothane, respectively) and relaxation time (17 and 39% for 0.5 and 1.5% halothane, respectively). At high halothane concentrations (1.5%) calcium chloride shortens latency (10%) and prolongs time to peak tension (11%); magnesium sulfate prolongs latency (14%) and shortens time to peak tension (10%).