Supplemental Use of Ergotamine in Eliciting Transient Disturbances of Rhythm in Acute Rheumatic Fever

Abstract

Conclusions

1. It is suggested, from a limited experience with the method, that the supplemental administration of ergotamine tartrate may be useful in increasing the precision of the electrocardiograph as a diagnostic aid in acute rheumatic fever. 2. It is considered that the rationale of this procedure depends on the elevation of a subordinated or “latent” hypervagotonia by a suppression of activity of the normal antagonist of the vagus, so that “cholinergigenic” disturbances in rhythm are thus made manifest in the electrocardiogram. 3. The procedure is simple, can be standardized easily and is without any harmful effects.