Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-15
Health Talks, by DR.. VIM. Brady
rchanicai Tests OF the Heart.

No examination Of a patient with heart dis-
case Is complete withsut chemical ana micro
scopicai analysis 10 determine the state OF tho
kidney function, Tor cxcrction from the kidneys
depends largely upon the efficiency OF the heart,
Any individual mo hold his breath TOR
thirty five seconds more by the watch, has
competent heart. no matter whether tho valves
leak the muscle is damaged. In surgical
practice. if the kidneys are not seriously I'm
paired and ii the patient can hold his breath
twenty-five seconds or more. an operation is
deemed safe" Inability TO hold the breath. how
ever. does not signify heart disease; it Is more
definitely sign OF acidosis. the accumulation OF
carbonic acid gas the tissues and blood Carbon
dioSidc) and Of other acids being particularly
noticeable in diabetes. urcmia and other severe
forms of Administrations The normal breaking
point, tho point at which one Is forced to take
another breath Is forty seconds for an adult
Some individuals IN excellent general condition
seconds, without preparation. OF course. by
preliminary deep breathing for two or more
minutes. without hurry overcXertion. any
normal individual should lie able to hold his
breath ninety seconds or two minutes.
cchanical tests disclose the reserve power OF
the heart. Obviously the patient Will not respond
10 the test normally If the reserve power Of the
heart is being drawn upon by any handicap
such high blood pressure, pronounced autoin-
toHication. hardened arteries acute illness.
In n normal individual the pulse rate increases
from four eight beats per minute when the
standing posture In assumed That Is. the pulse
is four to eight beats faster than II s when
the individual is lying down. IT the heart Is
diseased the pulse rate is ten TO twenty beats
faster when the standing posture is assumed.
If the pulse rate is. say. sixty five per minute
rninute In tho standing posture. IT should he
from eighty nvn to nincty-1vc per minute i'm
nedia;cly after twenty deep ncxions Of the legs
at the rate OF per second. II should return
10 the normal rat" within three minutes after
the nexions If tho heart liz Incompetent. that
tx. II tho power is reduced by disease.
the increase OF pulse rate Is greater after this
exercise. and II IN from i've to ten minutes re-
turning TO normal rate with rest. II iB but fair
10 STAT" that mcr" nervous irritahilIty viii pro
que" exaggerated rcSponar 10 all Of these
Cit;,nical tests, but IL nervousness IL the col"
under lyini; condition there IL always a prompt
return 10 normal win rest OF course, nervous
and organic dis"ase often 20 together.
Questions md Answrrs
what sweet OIL" IH--I'lcnHe tell what
sweet oil Is. and whether It Is good oIiva
OIL for medicinal uscB.
hnswcr--It liz olive oil
/, IL :. Large FS.ld--Tr cancer ~ not hcrcdi-
tnry. why a" rome families have moro eases
thai,i oth"iH2
Answer Coincidence. Som" families havn
fnorc broken homo, boy babi"n ana r"nl estate
thn, others. cancer /. common ihat every
family 80 bound 10 suffer less
Normal sat Soiution--PIca.,c tell how
much nnIl ahould DO dissolved In water TO make