1035 
very small contractions, abortive systoles of the muscle of the ventricle, 
take place (vide Fig. 11 at the figures 2). J observed this pheno- 
menon so often that I should naturally be inclined to suppose 
a connection between the occurrence of the small contractions of the 
ventricle and the considerable filling with blood of the ventricle. 
My supposition in this respect was supported by the fact, that I did 
not observe this phenomenon after the poisoning with veratrine, when 
the filling of the ventricle with blood decreases considerably *). 
Besides the mentioned disturbances of the rhythm of the ventricle 
we observe in this stage still considerable disturbances in the con- 
ductivity of the ventricle. This can cause the systole to increase 
considerably in width (vide Fig. 4th lower row of curves). But it 
can likewise cause a great difference in the shape of the curves 
of the systoles and make them deviate entirely from the normal ones. 
Many types of these can be observed, some of them I shall describe 
here. In’ the first place the ascending line of curves can show a 
distinct inclination (Fig. 5). Then the top can be split (Fig. 6) and 
finally a new ascent of the curves can occur in the dilatation (Fig. 7). 
This 24 ascent can obtain a greater height than the first top (Fig. 8 
and Fig. 13). The postulation could be made that extra-systoles are 
at work with these curves, but several data tell against this conjecture. 
In the first place the fact that the new ascent can occur during 
the stage of contraction, tells against it, and at the same time the 
fact that the 2°¢ ascent during the diastole can by far exceed the 
first in height. We have here consequently no coordinated systoles 
of the ventricle. . 
We often see that these deformed systoles exercise a regulating 
influence on the rhythm of the systoles of the ventricle. A previously 
existing alternation afterwards often passes into systoles of the ventricle 
of equal height. (vide Fig. 4, 5, 6 and 7). We must find the expla- 
nation of this phenomenon in the prolonged pause, following after 
these deformed systoles. This one prolonged pause restores the muscle 
of the ventricle so much, that during some time normal systoles 
ean follow. The prolonged pause after the deformed systoles owes 
its existence to the fact that on account of the increase of duration 
of these systoles the next following impulse coming from the auricle, 
reaches the ventricle during the refractory stage so that one systole 
of the ventricle falls out. 
The following experiment shows distinctly that one prolonged 
1) The increase of the filling of the heart after injection of digitalis is evidently 
caused by the concommitting vasoconstriction. 
