EXPERIMENTAL HEART-FAILURE IN RABBITS

¹ Department of Pathology, Cambridge University

1. The effect of injecting Dakin's fluid and iodine into the pericardium of the rabbit is described.

2. The resulting changes are shown to be caused by heart failure, and not by inflammation and lymphatic obstruction as heretofore believed.

3. The preparation is a simple method of producing experimental failure of the heart.

4. In these animals, in addition to a rise of venous pressure, a reduction of the pressure gradient in the veins was demonstrated.

5. During the course of the heart failure the arterial pressure remained constant.

6. From investigation of the protein content of the effusions the conclusion was drawn that too rigid an interpretation of the characters of transudates and exudates cannot be accepted. In the type of heart failure under discussion the effusions have the characteristics normally ascribed to exudates.

Note:

This work was carried out during the tenure of a Post-graduate Fellowship of the Medical Research Council. I wish to express my thanks to the College Council of Trinity College for their additional financial assistance.

For the chest radiographs I am indebted to Professor Harris for permission to use the X-ray apparatus of the Cambridge Anatomy School.

My thanks are also due in large measure to Dr. A. N. Drury for his assistance and guidance and for much helpful criticism.