Book Reviews DAS ELEKTROKARDIOGRAMMBEI DYSTROPHIEALS BEITRAGZURPHYSIKALISCH-PHYSIOLOGISCHEN ANALYSE DES ELEKTROKARDIOGRAMMS. By F. P. N. Schennetten. Berlin, 1951, Akadmie Verlag, 53 pages with 21 figures. The first part of the book consists of a rather superficial statistical analysis of the electro- cardiograms in 238 patients with different degrees of malnutrition and very different clinical backgrounds. The results are not essentially new. The second part of the book consists of a series of experiments with changing external resistance and capacitance. From the results it is concluded that the low voltage in malnutrition is mainly due to a degeneration of the fat tissue surrounding the heart which decreases the resistance in the electrical field. The general standard of the book is characterized by statements that the first sign of atrio- ventricular block is a shortening of the P-R interval, and that “the electrocardiographic changes (in malnutrition) were irreversible in most patients who died.” There is no justification for publication of the material as a book, and not much for publication at all. E. S. THE HEAKT BEAT. By Aldo A. Luisada, New York, 1953, John Hoeber, Inc., Medical Book Department of Harper & Rros., New York, 527 pages, 273 figures. This volume is devoted to a summary of the many different methods of graphic recording of cardiac activity in health and disease. The first portion of the book is devoted to normal and abnormal findings obtained by phonocardiography, ballistocardiography, recordings of the venous and arterial pulses, roentgenkymography, electrokymography, precordial and epigastric cardiog- raphy, electrocardiography, and vectorcardiography. There are also sections dealing with pulsations of the liver, cardiac catheterization, and with respiratory tracings, including pneumog- raphy and pneumotachography. The section devoted to phonocardiography is especially note- worthy and well written. Because of the scope of the material covered, the various chapters necessarily are condensations of present knowledge concerning these methods of graphic recording of the heart beat and of respiratory activity. There is, however, a good bibliography to which the reader may refer for more detailed information in these fields. The latter part of the volume is devoted to the clinical application of these graphic methods in studying various disease states. including rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, diseases of the pericardium, etc. In this section of the book, the author points out which of the various means of recording cardiac activity provide information deemed helpful in studying these disease entities. Under the discussion of the disease states, it appears that the author has described numerous findings obtained by graphic means of recording which may be helpful in some instances, and which may be diagnostic in a few, but which will be of questionable value under many circumstances. Much of the information contained in this volume may be of interest to cardiologists and internists. It is highly improbable. however, that workers in these clinical fields will employ more than a few of the methods of graphic recording described by the author. However, those wishing to familiarize themselves with some of these technical methods of study of cardiac activity will find a ready source of information in this volume. H. H. 154

Das elektrokardiogramm bei dystrophie als beitrag zur physikalisch-physiologischen analyse des elektrokardiogramms: By F. P. N. Schennetten. Berlin 1951, Akadmie Verlag, 53 pages with

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Page 1: Das elektrokardiogramm bei dystrophie als beitrag zur physikalisch-physiologischen analyse des elektrokardiogramms: By F. P. N. Schennetten. Berlin 1951, Akadmie Verlag, 53 pages with

Book Reviews

DAS ELEKTROKARDIOGRAMMBEI DYSTROPHIEALS BEITRAGZURPHYSIKALISCH-PHYSIOLOGISCHEN ANALYSE DES ELEKTROKARDIOGRAMMS. By F. P. N. Schennetten. Berlin, 1951, Akadmie Verlag, 53 pages with 21 figures.

The first part of the book consists of a rather superficial statistical analysis of the electro- cardiograms in 238 patients with different degrees of malnutrition and very different clinical backgrounds. The results are not essentially new.

The second part of the book consists of a series of experiments with changing external resistance and capacitance. From the results it is concluded that the low voltage in malnutrition is mainly due to a degeneration of the fat tissue surrounding the heart which decreases the resistance in the electrical field.

The general standard of the book is characterized by statements that the first sign of atrio- ventricular block is a shortening of the P-R interval, and that “the electrocardiographic changes (in malnutrition) were irreversible in most patients who died.”

There is no justification for publication of the material as a book, and not much for publication at all.

E. S.

THE HEAKT BEAT. By Aldo A. Luisada, New York, 1953, John Hoeber, Inc., Medical Book Department of Harper & Rros., New York, 527 pages, 273 figures.

This volume is devoted to a summary of the many different methods of graphic recording of cardiac activity in health and disease. The first portion of the book is devoted to normal and abnormal findings obtained by phonocardiography, ballistocardiography, recordings of the venous and arterial pulses, roentgenkymography, electrokymography, precordial and epigastric cardiog- raphy, electrocardiography, and vectorcardiography. There are also sections dealing with pulsations of the liver, cardiac catheterization, and with respiratory tracings, including pneumog- raphy and pneumotachography. The section devoted to phonocardiography is especially note- worthy and well written. Because of the scope of the material covered, the various chapters necessarily are condensations of present knowledge concerning these methods of graphic recording of the heart beat and of respiratory activity. There is, however, a good bibliography to which the reader may refer for more detailed information in these fields.

The latter part of the volume is devoted to the clinical application of these graphic methods in studying various disease states. including rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, diseases of the pericardium, etc. In this section of the book, the author points out which of the various means of recording cardiac activity provide information deemed helpful in studying these disease entities. Under the discussion of the disease states, it appears that the author has described numerous findings obtained by graphic means of recording which may be helpful in some instances, and which may be diagnostic in a few, but which will be of questionable value under many circumstances.

Much of the information contained in this volume may be of interest to cardiologists and internists. It is highly improbable. however, that workers in these clinical fields will employ more than a few of the methods of graphic recording described by the author. However, those wishing to familiarize themselves with some of these technical methods of study of cardiac activity will find a ready source of information in this volume.

H. H. 154