[Methods and results of electrocardiography and arterial blood pressure determination with remote recording and drug administration in cattle].

Abstract

An account is given in this paper of catheterisation of the common carotid artery and external jugular vein of cattle by means of silicone rubber hoses together with a method of wireconnected remote recording of blood pressure and cardiac potentials, using strong subcutaneously placed electrodes. Also described are techniques for recording of respiration through one simple, intranasally applied thermo-couple as well as for remote application of pharmaceuticals, using infusion pumps or syringes with extension tubes. Electrocardiograms (ECG) and shapes of blood curves recorded from non-medicated animals were analysed. Cattle ECG usually exhibited a small positive P-spike, one ventricular complex usually made up of one small positive R-spike and one large negative S-spike as well as one large positive T-spike. The pericardial arterial blood-pressure curve was found to rise, without preliminary waves, to two main waves separated from one another by a clear incisure, before it dropped steeply, later on more smoothly and oscillating to the enddiastolic pressure point.