DR THOMAS R. FRASER ON STROPHANTHUS HISP1DUS. 395 



4.5. p.m. Heart's contractions 8 per 30 sec. Diastole is only slowly completed, and the ventricle rests 

 motionless in complete diastole for about 5 sec. Ventricular systole is strong and complete, the 

 ventricle becoming small and pale. 



4.8. Do. do. A little irregularity. 



4.11. Heart remained motionless in extreme ventricular diastole for 1 ruin. 30 sec. 



4.13. Heart's contractions spontaneously resumed at rate of 6 per 30 sec. 



4.14. Heart's contractions 3 per 30 sec. Pauses in extreme ventricular diastole for about 5 sec. 



4.16. Pause in extreme ventricular diastole for 30 sec. ; then 4 contractions in 25 sec. ; then pause for 

 40 sec. ; then 1 contraction ; then pause for 3 min. ; then 5 contractions in 30 sec. ; then pause 

 for 3 min. ; then 2 contractions in 15 sec. ; then pause for 1 min. ; then 10 contractions in 50 

 sec. ; then pause for 35 sec. ; then 5 contractions in 30 sec. ; then pause for 1 min. 10 sec. ; and 

 then 6 contractions followed again by pause. During the standstill of the heart, the ventricle is 

 always in the condition of extreme diastole ; and during the contractions, the ventricular systole is 

 powerful, and the ventricle becomes very pale and small. This remarkable condition of the 

 heart's action continued, with much the same irregularities and characteristics, until 5.20. 

 Towards the end of this time it very frequently happened that, immediately before a movement 

 occurred of the ventricle, resting in extreme diastole, this movement was preceded by an auri- 

 cular contraction, which was not followed by contraction of the ventricle until the auricles had 

 again contracted. After the ventricle had contracted, also, complete diastole was only slowly 

 attained, contrasting markedly with the abrupt diastoles before Strophanthus had been applied 

 to the heart. 

 5.23. Heart's contractions 1 per 60 sec. An interval of about 9 sec. elapses between the end of a com- 

 pleted ventricular systole and the attainment of complete diastole ; then a pause of varying 

 duration, with the ventricle very large and dark ; and then a powerful systolic contraction by 

 which the ventricle is thoroughly emptied of blood. 

 5.26 to 5.56. Do. At 5.56, however, 3 contractions occurred quickly after each other in 1 min. ; 

 the first two with moderately abrupt ventricular diastole ; the third with very slow attain- 

 ment of complete diastole, without, however, any observable antecedent contraction of the 

 auricles. 

 7.30. Heart's contractions 1 per 60 sec. Pauses in extreme diastole; systole strong and complete. 

 On the following day, at 



10 a.m. Heart's contractions 2 per 120 sec. Each movement from commencement of systole to slowly 

 completed extreme diastole occupies about 10 sec, and in the intervals the ventricle is 

 quiescent in extreme diastole. The systolic contractions are strong, and produce great pallor of 

 the ventricle. 



10.36, 11.18, 12.30, and 2.30. Do. do. do. 



On the third day, at 



10.55. Heart's contractions 6 per 30 sec. Pauses in extreme ventricular diastole. 



10.58. Applied to the surface of the heart fths of a minim of the solution of strophanthin ( = 0-000375 

 grain). 



11.4. Heart's contractions 6 per 30 sec. Nearly regular and synchronous. 



11.7. Pause in extreme diastole at times for 30 sec; then for several minutes nearly regular contractions 

 at the rate of 6 per 30 sec, with slowly attained extreme ventricular diastole ; then pause in 

 extreme diastole for 80 sec. ; then contractions, &c 

 1.20. No contraction has occurred for 4 min. Irritation of the toes causes reflex movements of the 

 toes irritated, and also of the toes of the thoracic extremity of same side. Heart's auricles are 

 large and dark, and the ventricle is large and moderately dark. Irritation of ventricle excites a 

 faint contraction in it, succeeded by slow relaxation to the former condition ; irritation of an 

 auricle excites a contraction of the auricle irritated. All spontaneous movements of the heart 

 have ceased. Excised the heart ; all its chambers contain much blood ; red litmus-paper applied 

 to a section of the ventricle gives a doubtful reaction. 



