MOTION OF THE HEART IN DISEASE OF THE MITRAL VALVE

Abstract

Roentgenograms of the heart which do not record the rhythmic movements of its borders must always remain of limited value. Even the orthodiagram, while offering information not to be obtained from the roentgenograms, fails to inform us of the time relations of the movements of various parts of the heart outline. In 1925, Ruggles¹ succeeded in making 8 by 10 inch instantaneous roentgenograms of the beating heart, serially, at the rate of fifteen per second. He reduced these roentgenograms, photographically, on to a motion picture film. When projected, Ruggles' film gave an excellent demonstration of the shadow of the moving heart, with detail and visibility far exceeding the best that can be obtained by watching the shadows on the fluorescent screen. Any one who has observed the movements of the heart, as shown by the fluoroscope, or with the greater clarity of Dr. Ruggles' cinematographic demonstration, must appreciate how valuable