Abstract

In availing myself of the opportunity of making a rejoinder to Dr. Hirschfelder's criticism of my recent communication I wish first to say that I think his criticism is partly right and partly wrong. The diagnosis of complete heart-block with the auricle beating four or five times as fast as the ventricle can undoubtedly, as he says, be made without instruments of any kind. In partial heart-block, however, which probably always precedes the complete form, the problem is entirely different. We may not have bradycardia in these cases, but only an irregularity caused by an occasional "block" of the auricular impulse. These cases, the recognition of which is so important, can scarcely be detected without the aid of suitable instruments. It might, of course, be possible in favorable cases to<i>feel</i>an omission of the radial pulse or apex beat and<i>see</i>that a conspicuous venous pulsation continued without interruption.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call