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1 Department of Physiology, The Hahnemann Medical College, Phila., Pa.
A statistical study of electrocardiographic changes during the bioassay of digitalis by the USP XII method indicates the following:
(1) Under ether anesthesia coupling is more frequent before than after the infusion of digitalis.
(2) The P-R interval for a given heart rate is smaller under the influence of digitalis.
(3) The average dose at which the maximum R-R Q-T ratio, minimum rate, S-T segment deviation, ectopic beats, ventricular fibrillation and cardiac death occur, varies with the dose producing A-V dissociation.
(4) When the cases are grouped according to the dose producing A-V dissociation, the interval between this event and the lethal dose tends to be a constant one.
(5) Mean blood pressure bears no significant relationship to the electrocardiographic findings.
Submitted on October 25, 1945