This long monograph, in essence, brings together much previously reported work by the author; it is amplified by unpublished data and a review of some of the pertinent literature. Dr. Matthes, who is professor of medicine at Erlangen, describes his photoelectric extravascular methods for continuous and simultaneous recording of blood pressure, pulse rate, plethysmography, and blood oxygen saturation, in addition to respiratory excursions, skin temperature, and venous pressure. These methods were used in a series of investigations dealing with human respiratory and cardiovascular physiology under various conditions. The chapters deal with arterial oxygen saturation, oxygen saturation and vascular reactions during artificial arterial occlusion, pulse volume, rhythmic changes of blood pressure and pulse frequency, vasomotor reflexes, hyperventilation and carbon dioxide breathing, hypoxia, circulatory reactions to various drugs, such as sympathomimetics, hypertensive and hypotensive substances, atropine, and digitalis preparations.
Although containing few unexpected or startling results, this book may be of interest