Miscellany: early twentieth-century cardiography

Several items relating to early cardiograph research:

"Kritische Studie zur Entwicklung des Sphymographen", doctoral dissertation by J. Petter, Giessen, 1906.

Cardiograph reading with notes, and envelope addressed to J. Gurney, Chesterton Hall, Cambridge: it is not clear whether Mr Gurney is the patient or a person interested in the functioning of the cardigraph. 1911.

Letter to Dr. Scales, Cambridge, from Schall & Son, engineers, enclosing cardiograph reading. 1912.

Letter to Dr. Scales from A. Walker, discussing some cardiograph readings (not present). 1913.

Sheet of notes and calculations, on similar paper to the letter from Walker, source unclear.

"Experientia Majorum: Notizen zur Geschichte der Sphymographie", H. Buess, reprinted article from Experientia, 1947.

1906-1947

1 file

Presented by Professor Christopher Lawrence of University College, London, July 2011.

Francis Shillington Scales was a pioneer in the use of the electrocardiograph; he graduated M.B., B.Ch. at Jesus College, Cambridge in 1909, and M.D. in 1912. He was lecturer in microscopy at Westminster Hospital and the first professor of medical radiology and electrology at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge (cf. B.M.J., 1927, i, p. 494)..

At Wellcome Collection:

Acardiograph record book by Francis Shillington Scales is held as MS.4379.

Professor Lawrence had received this material some years previously from Dr Edwin Clarke of the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. Its original source is not recorded.