THE PROPORTION OF CERTAIN IMPORTANT INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS IN THE DYING HEART MUSCLE

Abstract

On fresh human hearts a total of 69 analyses were made, 11, however, for water, ash, Na and K only, since the relation of other elements was considered to have been sufficiently well established with the 1st 58 analyses. No relation was found between water, ash, Ca, Mg, K and Na con-tent and age and disease. The inorganic constituents, except Mg, which is fairly constant, show considerable variation. Contrary to expectation the hearts from individuals exhibiting arteriosclerotic changes or advanced in years had not high Ca contents. K was in excess of Na. The His bundle in the ox heart contains apparently less K than the ventricular muscle, but this may be due to the relatively large amount of connective tissue as compared with the volume of the conducting fibers.