A self-anesthetizing needle system (10) which includes preferably an opaque tubular member (12) within which the hypodermic needle is positioned and also includes a chamber (16) at the opposite end of the tubular member within which a sponge-like material (26) is carried and which is saturated with a topical anesthetic such as ethyl chloride and includes a closure (28) to provide an airtight, water-tight seal within which the sponge-like material is contained until it is time for an injection to be given, at which point the closure member is removed and the sponge-like material is applied against the skin of a patient to whom an injection is to be administered to anesthetize the skin at the point where the injection is to be given after which the injection is then administered.