On the law which regulates the frequency of the pulse / by A. H. Garrod, B.A.

  • Garrod, Alfred Henry.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the law which regulates the frequency of the pulse / by A. H. Garrod, B.A. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    19/34 (page 17)
    If other remote effects of respiration tend to mo- dify the pressure in the vessels, it is evident that they would co-exist with the above and influence it but slightly, explaining the existence of the experi- mental discrepancies. The effect of position of the body on the pulse rate. The experiments of Dr. Guy led him to explain the differences in pulse rate following change of position as depending on the amount of muscular effort necessary to maintain the positions assumed, and his explanation, assuming that muscular effort of itself can change pulse rate, is very complete. It is curious that the theory under consideration gives an interpretation of the same facts, though very different from that of Dr. Guy. The following are the most essential facts—The pulse is quickest while standing erect, slowest while lying, intermediate while sitting, slow while stand- ing leaning and while supported entirely as by being bound to a wheel in any position. The following is the explanation. While stand- ing, the only soft parts of the body which support the weight of the body are the soles of the feet, and the weight is transmitted to them through non- vascular and rigid tissues, cartilage and bone. Consequently the blood flows freely through almost all the vascular system unobstructed. But while lying, most of the weight is supported by highly vascular tissues, as the shoulders, arms, thighs and legs, and consequently much of the circulatory system is greatly reduced in capacity from the compression it experiences, and considerable re- sistance to the flow of blood is introduced into the c