Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-03
Machine Test Heart by Telephone Latest Medical Invention

ceptible to the most tuneful ear as is the
tabled and long sought Lost Chord AT
closer range than via the telephone al
most uncanny heart tests are TO be OBJ
tanned from it's writings. II two men
hold hands and are connected with the
receiver Of the machine the resultant
tracingS Will show composite curve OF
the bioletic changes of the two hearts
DIR. Barker said recently:
1T has long been known that a certain
amount of electrical current is produced
with each heart beat, but that these cur
rents are so small and their detection so
difficult that clinical application seemed
out of the question until Einthoven ap-
piled first the capillary electronOmeter
and later invented his thread galvenome-
ter for the purpose. Electric currents
passed through a magnetic field undergo.
as is already known. a DETECTION which
increases either with the strength OF the
current or the strength of the field.
EinthOven passed the current from the
heart through microscopic string, made
of quartz or platinum. one to three MI
crOnS in thickness. suspended in very
strong magnetic field The movements OF
this thread, or string. are photographed
through an Illuminated Slit on rapidly
moving film under lens magnifying sew
eral hundred times. This Photographic
record yields curve known as the cleo
trocardiOgram.
method is still very new, the application
to clinical cases already gives much en-
couragement for results from its further
use. Particularly in the analysis of Or
ganic and functional disturbances, do
main in which our clinical investigative
minds have previously been sinsulariy de-
ficent. the electrOcardiOgram promises a
good deal. 4 practitioner may have the
detection of heart sounds SO much in his
mind that he fails to note differences in
intensity Of the various sounds. an unfor-
tunate omission, since feeble heart sounds
give important clues to the weakening oil
the various heart chambers and accen-
tuate6 heart sounds betray overactivlty OF
certain parts of the heart.
Practitioners are learning to pay far
more attention to certain splittings OF
doublirgs of the regular heart sounds
Particularly to the extra sound occurring
between the end of the second and begin
ming Of the first heart sound. Sound in
terpolation of this sort gives a peculiar
rhythm to the cardiac sounds which. be-
cause of their close resemblance to a gal
Looping horse, are known as gailoI
rhythm" The frequency of this gallon
in arteriosclerosis is familiar TO all who
have studied the heart carefully In these
affections.
Blood pressure is now considered care
fully by every modern practitioner. He
is not willing to abide by the simple
pulSation evident to the eye or finger.
An instrument is considered essential IN
many cases, and such VIII be prominent
among the numerous heart contrivances
which DIR. Barker plans to add to his
collection" at the Hopkins In order TO
make 1t as perfect as inventive man
has as yet rendered possible. The
eIectroscope already mentioned. deter
mines the strength Of the blood passing
from the heart to the arteries, and is SO
small that ii be carried about. 1t
enables a patient to have this test made
i'm his home, whereas formerly the neces-
sity for it made a hospital or Office trip
compulsory.
In addition to this the velocity and
pressure of the blood which formerly had
5 to be determined by very clumsy
mechanism. separate and distinct from
f the stethoscope, is now simultaneously
5 learned. The blood monometer, as 1t is
n also called, has the same effect on meas
uring pressure of the blood as barOm-
( eter has on the atmosphere.
That electrical current already men,
= toned. which is created by each heart
I beat. can be drawn off and measured
by means of this thread galvanometer
. The results help physicians to ascertain
5 the exact nature of the ailment from
e which the heart suffers, and the tenn
C porary drawing off Of the current does
s not in any way affect the beat nor does
the patient suffer. any Inconvenience.
There is also an instrument fer meas