Paroxysmal Tachycardia

Two cases of paroxysmal tachycardia demonstrated certain unusual features which appeared to warrant their being reported: Case1.—History.—J. E., a girl aged 13, was admitted to the Hospital for Sick Children Aug. 25, 1938. She was the third child in a family of 6. The rest were in good health except for one who had mild kidney trouble and one who occasionally had bronchitis. The patient had usually been in good health. She had measles at the age of 4 years. At 7 she began to have tachycardia at intervals, the attacks lasting from a few minutes to four days. They were usually characterized by the sudden onset of a choking feeling which lasted a few minutes and was followed by a sense of weakness. At such times her heart rate was reported to be close to 200 beats per minute. Often her pulse was difficult to count