Prolonged Paroxysmal Auricular Tachycardia

THERE have been several reports in the literature of cases of prolonged paroxysmal auricular tachycardia. The case reported below is presented because it is somewhat rare and it is the first case in which veratrum viride has successfully though temporarily stopped an episode of tachycardia.Peterman1 reported a quite similar case in a six-year-old child who developed an auricular rate of 160 in November, 1943, and at the time of the study (January, 1946) the tachycardia had persisted. Digitalis was given until toxic effects were produced without stopping the tachycardia; mecholyl produced only temporary conversion to normal rhythm, and papaverine, . . .