Ballistocardiography in Cardiovascular Research.

The name of Doctor Isaac Starr has been almost synonymous with that of ballistocardiography during the past three decades. Doctor Joseph Stokes, Jr., in presenting the Kober Medal to Starr, indicated that 16 of his papers on this subject had been chosen for programs of the annual meetings of the Association of American Physicians between 1932 and 1961. BALLISTOCARDIOGRAPHY IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH presents Starr and Noordergraff's clinical experience and mathematical studies which resulted in their adopting a very light, freely-suspended platform, the socalled "ultra low-frequency ballistocardiogram," as the method which yields most accurate representation of body movements. The authors emphasize the simplicity, safety, and painlessness of the technique which provides useful information about left ventricular ejection and myocardial contractability. One of the apparent limitations which still awaits adequate solution is that of multidimensional recording. Despite abundant exposure to the leaders of medicine, the ballistocardiograph has not achieved wide acceptance or