Abstract-This article emphasizes that the abnormalities noted on chest x-ray films of the chest can be diagnostic of giant left atrium. It also points out that a giant left atrium that occasionally occurs in patients with rheumatic mitral valve regurgitation does not occur in patients with mitral regurgitation due to other causes.

Summary: This paper extols the value of combining two systems in order to improve learning, teaching, communication, patient care, and clinical research in patients with heart disease. This is accomplished by using Weed's recommendation regarding the creation of a complete Problem List and, within this context, characterizing the cardiac or vascular problem according to the recommendations of the New York Heart Association. Key words: classification of heart and vascular disease, NewYork Heart Association, problem-oriented record Classifying Heart DiseaseThe classification of information makes for orderliness; but orderliness, for most individuals, without the appreciation of value, is not sufficiently rewarding to sustain the effort of classifying. The purpose of this essay is to highlight the practical value of using the New York Heart Association's classification of cardiovascular disease and to emphasize its use in the context of the patient's complete Problem List. The Union of Two SystemsThe system discussed here was created by the union of a complete Problem List as defined by Weed' and the classifiAddress for reprints:

Summary: This article extols the value of using Grant's approach to the interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECGs). The essay includes a discussion on how people learn and emphasizes the difference in memorizing information, thinking, and learning. Simply stated, the brains of most people are not designed to memorize countless numbers of ECG patterns. Accordingly, the essay supports the view that a method of interpretation must be used, and the reader is encouraged to use basic principles of electrocardiography, including vector concepts, to interpret each ECG.

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