232 



During the large systoles I saw in this experiment the whole 

 ventricle contract, whilst clnring the little systoles the point remained 



Fig. 1. 

 in rest. After this suspended lieart iiad written for some time alter- 

 nation-curves, these curves suddenly changed into curves of equal 

 height. This transition can be seen in the figure. For a very short 

 time these curves continued to be of equal height, to change again into 

 alternation. The second row of curves of the figure was written 

 down 5 minutes after the first. Tlie transition of the alternation into 

 the curves of equal height is brought about, because the little curves 

 increase in height, whilst the height of the large curves gradually 

 decreases. The height of the normal curves is in the end between 

 that of the large ones and the little ones of the alternation. I 

 found this confirmed in a great number of experiments. This 

 can be beautifully seen in fig. 1. I have not observed here the 

 transition of these normal curves into the alternation. After I 

 had replaced the drum to begin the second row, the alternation 

 existed already again. The distances between the initial points of 

 the ventricle-systoles of the alternation-row are equal, but because 

 the large systoles are wider, the ventricle-pauses are of unequal 

 duration. The little systoles follow after a shorter pause than the 

 large ones. And it is the preceding pause that is of consequence. 

 The dimension of the systole is in general dependent upon the 

 duration of the pi'eceding pause and of the dimension of the systole 

 that has preceded this pause. If a systole after a short pause succeeds 



