The influence of cocaine, atropine, and caffeine on the heart and bloodvessels / by H.G. Beyer.

  • Beyer, Henry Gustav, 1850-1918.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of cocaine, atropine, and caffeine on the heart and bloodvessels / by H.G. Beyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    still beating at the rate of 13 per minute, the auricles at 26, with the result of increasing both its rate as well as the work done, just what takes place under normal conditions when the venous pressure is raised and the heart happens to be powerful enough to propel the extra amount of blood thus forced into it. I see, therefore, nothing in the way so far of interpreting these phenomena, as due to the stimulating influence of cocaine on the heart's action. Larger doses of cocaine, however, than were used in this experiment or cocainized blood of the same strength as used here, longer continued will finally produce standstill in diastole of both auricles and ventricle. But even after this diastolic arrest is complete, and both auricles and ventricle over-distended with blood which they are unable to propel, it is in most cases possible to cause the heart to recover perfectly in a comparative short space of time, as many of my experi- ments show and make it continue to beat as often and do as much work as before. During the winter months, liowever, this stimulatory effect is less pronounced, and thei'efore much easier overlooked. From these experiments it is concluded : (1) That cocaine is exceed- ingly prompt and uniform in its effects upon the heart. (2) In small doses it is a powerful stimulant to the heart's action. (.3) In medium doses it has an inhibitory influence over the ventricular contractions, and (4) in large doses it jiroduces diastolic arrest from which, however, the heart may be recovered under suitable condition. Experiment XXIV.—April 18, 1885. Terrapin 1350 grms. Calfs blood and Ringer's saline (1 : 14)- Infiow canulas in inferior and left superior venae cava?. Outflow canulas in pulmonary artery and right aorta. Venous pressure 4 cm. Arterial pressure 25 cm. Cocoainized blood contained 0.004 grm. of the bromide of cocaine: 100 c.c. of the normal nutrient blood mixture. Work The circulating fluids were supplied to the Time. Eate p. min. in c. c. Temp. heart at the time mentioned on the same line P.M. Aur. Ventr. p. min. Cent. in first column. 3.20 22 23 38 240 40 22 23 38 45 22 23 39 50 22 22 38 55 22 23 39 On cocainized blood for y, minute. 4.00 22 22 38 05 22 22 42 24 11 23 23 54 On cocainized blood for one minute. 14 23 23 48 17 23 23 49 On cocainized blood for one minute. 20 24 12 43 Ventricular rhythm became reduced to one- half normal 3 minutes after cocaiTiized blood had been turned on the last time. 2* 24 12 44 27 24 12 43 23.5 30 26 26 55 33 26 26 55 On cocainized blood for minute. 35 26 26 48 Ventricular rhythm was reduced at 4.36. 38 24 12 55 41 24 12 56 43 26 26 47 23.5 At beginning of this obs. normal rhythm returned. 45 26 26 47 On cocainized blood for two minutes. 47 Two auricular to 1 ventricular contraction. 51 26 13 48
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