THE DETERMINATION OF POTASSIUM IN CARDIAC MUSCLE AND THE PRESUMABLE INFLUENCE OF THE BETA RADIATIONS ON THE RHYTHM

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Abstract
Determinations of K were carried out on 30 hearts and the possible effects of [beta] radiations of K on the heart muscle calculated. The mean percentage of K expressed as the element K was 0.231%. There is no material difference between the content of K in hearts from edematous and non-edematous cases. Assuming that the mean percentage of K in the heart muscle is of this order then the disintegration of K atoms will develop 9.64 X 10-6 ergs per sec. in a heart containing 300 gm. of muscular fibers,[long dash]an extremely minute amount of energy, but hundreds of times greater than the minimum necessary to stimulate either the optic or auditory nerve endings and moreover continuous from birth to death, varying only in degree.

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