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Show The New Way of Finding Out -How Sick or Well You Are by Measuring the Electricity 1 While this electric forr.p nrncMrtinp frnm tho .'honrt O J 19 How the Electric Forces Radiate from? the Heart, the Chief Streams Going to the Arms and Legs. the muscles, generntes so much electric elec-tric force that It is able to pass a great deal of it to other parts of the body. This electric energy which the heart supplies with every beat is believed be-lieved to play an important part In keeping us alive and well. While this electric force proceeding from the heart radiates more or less generally throughout the body, its chief streams pass to the arms and legs, as shown in the accompanying diagram. Every pulsation of the heart not only sends out blood through tire arteries, but sends forth electric energy to the farthest extremities extremi-ties of the body. That this is true is proved by the tests of sensitive eloctrlc instruments so arranged as to register the electric force applied to them. If the subject be sealed, with arms and legs in the electric receivers, connected with the Instrument, the operator can easily see how the heart is sending out eloctrlc Impulses. It seems almost as If the heart, were connected directly by wires with tlve arms and legs, bo direct and immediato is the, passage of the electric current. The greatest Impulse is given when the h'eart contracts, con-tracts, but there are steps in each contraction, as may be seen from one of the typical electro-cardiograms, as drawn by the sensitive needle of the electric registering register-ing apparatus. This record shows three ascending curves, P, It and T, and three more or less even horizontal lines, A, B and C. The ascending curves show the stronger Impulses Im-pulses from the heart, and the variation .between them proves that there are really three such impulses In each -heart-beat. The horizontal Hne3 Indicate the pauses between the impulses, or lack of electric Impulse. When the rhythmical character of the heart-beat is remembered, we can understand tire meaning of these curves and lines. The first up-curve, P, is broughtabout by the contraction of the lower part of the 'heart-muscle. A Indicates the pause which follows. Then comtes the powerful contraction of the apex of the heart, indicated by R; B shows the ensuing pause, and the curve T indicates in-dicates the contraction of the central parts of the The Record of Electric A Force p T Generated n.w Heart Beat. (P) Indicates . the Impulse Given by the Contraction of the Lower Part of the Heart Muscles; (R) That Given by the Contraction of the Apex; (T) That Given by the Central Heart Chambers; (A, B and C) the Intervening Pauses. h'eart-chambers, followed by another pause, Indicated by C. This Is considered a normal electro-cardiogram, or register of the electric action of the heart. The electric action varies in each individual, and no two persons will show precisely the sanre electro-cardiograms. If perfectly well, the genoral character will, however, be very much like the one shown. This electric test of thte heart is now being considered consid-ered of tremendous importance in the diagnosis of disease. dis-ease. The physician studies the marks of the electrio in Your Body m needle und-er the magnifying glass, and they tell him AS how the body's organs are working, if the heart does g not produce electric force normally, either it or tome Iff? other Important organ is not right, and this ingenious M , instrument quickly revealB tire presence of trouble. En It Is naturally the clearest Indicator of the condition Wg'- of the heart Itself. If the physician finds that the curves H & P and T are very low, he knows at once that the per- flji, son's heart Is Weak. If R, Instead of rising above the Wg horizontal lines, falls below ihem, he is sure that the BtA "patient is suffering from neurosis of the heart If T Kj ; falls below the horizontal lines, then it Is a certain in- MM lication of arterlo-sclerosls, or hardening of the ar- Mr-" teries. WR Investigations along this line have been carried to Hf j consIderableperfoction in Germany, where several dteli KB caie registering instruments have been devised. It la Hf t hoped that by this measuring of thte olectrlc energy of the heart It will soon bo possible to ascertain not mm only the organic troubles of that Important central H dynamo, but what, If any, are the defects of other or- HK ganB with which it is In direct connection. Dm |