196 REPORT—1840., 
triculorum together, it was plain that the jet coincided with 
the auricular systole, and preceded by a fraction ofa second the 
ventricular systole. During the diastole of the auricles a slight 
shortening of the column, as from diminished impetus from be- 
low, occurred, and again, in auricular systole, a sudden length- 
ening of the column, to be followed again by a shortening in 
diastole. 
During the systole of the ventricles immediately succeeding 
that of the auricles, and without distinct interval, no increase 
of the jet or column occurred, and during the diastole of the 
ventricles no subsidence, but simply a shortening, as before 
described, immediately after the auricular systole. 
During great part of observation of the jet the left auricle 
was tense and hard almost to the finger, and nearly immove- 
able, and the ventricular action was dull and feeble, and the 
ventricles themselves were not fully emptied in systole, the 
heart appearing to have suffered considerable torpefaction 
from the poison. 
S. 2. A glass tube was introduced into the left auricle and 
ventricle in succession, but a clot soon forming, owing to es- 
cape of soda solution during the rotatory motion by which the 
glass was first introduced, no very decided result was obtained. 
S. 3. After the ventricles had become very feeble and even 
the left auricle become comparatively inert, some energy of 
contraction was observed in the right sinus, and with each con- 
traction a wave of regurgitation down the vena cava inferior, 
viz. a diastole of the vein immediately preceding the ventricu- 
lar contraction and coinciding nearly with that of the auricle, 
and followed by a systole coinciding with ventricular contrac- 
tion and auricular diastole. The auricles at no time acted with 
sufficient energy to promise any result from traction by a string, 
or to yield distinct sound in systole, owing to an extreme dis- 
tension of the cavities, attributable totorpor of the muscular sub- 
stance and rapid and copious supply of blood from the veins. 
S. 4. The ventricles after death seemed not to differ mate- 
rially in size, having been cut out before complete death, and 
allowed to contract. 
S. 5. Several previous observations confirmed on this occa- 
sion, viz. as to rhythm of motions and cavities ; viz. auricles and 
ventricles respectively acted exactly together, and the former 
immediately before the latter, and without distinct interval, 
but as by continued undulatory motion; elevation of central 
parts of ventricles in systole and subsidence in diastole ; fric- 
tions of the pericardium double with each pair of cavities, viz. 
both in systole and diastole. 
