1.
MV & CV Doctors working over dog (3 shots)
0.11

2.
CV Doctors placing electrode bag over dog's heart (2 shots)
0.26

3.
MCV Instrument panel & moving graph
0.35

4.
CV Dog struggling as current is switched on
0.40

5.
CV Electrocardiograph registering heart impulses
0.50

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SCV Dog on table
0.53

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CV Instrumentation & plugs (3 shots)
1.12

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CV Dog's head with eyes moving
1.18



Initials SGM/1146 SGM/1205



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Doctors working at the Laboratory of Experimental Physiology for Reviving Organisms. of the Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences, have been working to perfect a method for treating patients suffering from irregular heart-beats. Professor Vladimir Negovsky and Doctor Naum Gurvich, who are leading the experiments, have been using controlled electric impulses to regulate the heart. Alsatian dogs are used as patients in the research programme.

To induce a heart irregularity the dog is subjected to an electric charge. This usually results in chaotic contractions of the heart's ventricles, stoppage of the pumping of blood, and instantaneous death. At this point a defibrillator begins operation....a strictly-controlled electrical discharge reactivates the heart without damage. This treatment of heart conditions is being used in most Soviet clinics, hospitals, and first-aid stations. The electric impulse defibrillators have been found, not only to save lives, but to prevent heart trouble. Research work is continuing to expand the scope of the treatment.

SYNOPSIS: At the Soviet Academy of Medical Sciences in Moscow, Professor Vladimir Negovsky and Doctor Naum Gurvich have been continuing a programme of research work aimed at perfecting the use of electric impulses in regulating the heart-beat. Experiments are being carried out on dogs. An electrode is fastened to the chest of the animal while an electrocardiograph registers the beating of the heart. At this stage an anaesthetic drug is administered.

The dog is subjected to an alternating electric current in order to induce chaotic heart irregularities which are measured. Violent contractions of the heart's ventricles are usually followed by the failure of the pumping of the blood, and death.

A carefully controlled electrical discharge from a defibrillator reactivates the heart without damage....7,000 volts at 30 amperes were used in this case. Soviet hospitals, clinics and first-aid posts are now using the defibrillators which saves lives and also, it's claimed, help prevent heart trouble.