An Electrocardiographic Study of the Heart in Lobar Pneumonia.

Numerous electrocardiographic studies have been made in rheumatic fever, diphtheria and other acute infectious diseases ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), but a search of the literature yields relatively little information on the changes in the heart depicted by the electrocardiogram in lobar pneumonia. Cohn and Jamieson (6) in a report on the action of digitalis in this disease discussed the tracings obtained from fifty patients not treated with digitalis. Although certain facts can be ascertained from a study of such a group, it is nevertheless true that a much larger series gives a more comprehensive picture. Furthermore, Cohn and Jamieson selectedl largely the mild cases to serve as controls, while those who were severely ill received digitalis. Therefore, it seemed advisable to study a large unselected group of patients to whom no digitalis had been given. The data forming the basis of this report were obtained during the course of an investigation on the action of digitalis in lobar pneumonia. The method of selection of cases, the routine established, and the precautions observed are given in detail by Wyckoff, DuBois and lAToodruff (7). Suffice it to say, that an absolutely unprejudiced random sample was obtained for both digitalis treated and untreated groups. Electrocardiograms were taken daily during the acute or febrile period of the disease, and every other day during convalescence.