A more convincing physiologic experiment could scarcely be devised as illustrative of the recuperative power of the human heart than the restoration of cardiac function following acute coronary occlusion. That it is possible for the human heart to reestablish its intrinsic blood flow, both through collateral vessels and through channels other than the coronary tree, is now well established and undoubtedly is an important factor in aiding recovery in cases of cardiac infarction. Allbutt,1Wearn,2Scott3and others have reported cases of complete occlusion of the coronary orifices from syphilitic aortitis in which no serious myocardial change was present. In these cases a gradual occlusion of one or both coronary orifices over a period of months was so completely compensated for that the patients were able to continue their daily work with comparative ease. It is quite apparent, therefore, that if the initial shock of acute cardiac