V. On the electromotive phenomena of the mammalian heart

Abstract

Methods of Research.—The heart being exposed, two points of its surface were connected by means of non-polarisable electrodes with the terminals of a capillary electrometer. An image of the meniscus was thrown on to a moving photographic plate, on which were also recorded the contractions of the ventricle, a time tracing (8 or 100 per second), and in many cases the time of stimulation (when artificial stimuli were used), or the period of excitation of the vagus (when it was desired to slow the heart). In nearly all experiments we used dogs.