468 BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL 



With about 60 per cent success in recovering animals comparable 

 in size to man from ventricular fibrillation by the application of a 

 rather arbitrarily chosen counter-shock, further study is desirable to 

 develop the optimum conditions and practical apparatus for utilizing 

 this method in accident cases. The use of a simple electrocardiograph 

 appears desirable since ventricular fibrillation cannot be recognized 

 positively by stethoscopic examination. 



Should a counter-shock be applied mistakenly to a coordinately 

 beating heart, the liability of its causing fibrillation is small and, 

 should this occur, another counter-shock probably will arrest the 

 fibrillation and bring back coordinate heart action. 



To be successful, a counter-shock must be administered promptly 

 after the fibrillating shock, probably within a few minutes. 



The use of a counter-shock does not in any way lessen the need for 

 maintaining respiration, by artificial means if necessary. In fact, the 

 administration of artificial respiration even in the interval before ap- 

 plication of a counter-shock is highly advisable, not only for respiration 

 itself, but because of the accompanying slight circulation which will 

 assist in the nutrition of the heart and delay degeneration of the brain. 



