title: [An overview of the history of electro-vectorcardiography. Tribute to the memory of the unforgettable Dr. Gustavo A. Medrano Castro].
abstract: The history of the investigations about of the so-called irritability of animal tissues showed by English physician Francis Glisson in the 17th century, is summarized. During the 18th century, reliable studies on the bioelectric properties of these tissues began, due to the Swiss scientist Albrecht von Haller and continuated by the Italian naturalist Felice Fontana. In the second half of this century, multiple controversies of the partisans of the animal electricity against the partisans of the contact electricity took place. The Danish scientist Oersted in 1820 proved the close relation of magnetism to electricity, which led to construction of electrometers. These instruments allowed to register and measure record of the electric current. On this way, at middle 21st century, the true animal electricity was identified as the injury current. Later it was possible to record the electric current, risen in the myocardium, out the thorax first by means of the Lippmann' capillary electrometer and later thanks to the Einthoven's string galvanometer at the beginning of the 20th century. So the modern electro-vectorcardiography took off, due to English Thomas Lewis, the North-American Frank N. Wilson and the Mexican Demetrio Sodi Pallares. The last one allowed to rationalize the electro-vectorcardiographic exploration on experimental bases.
authors.affiliation: Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México DF, México. Electronic address: alessandro.micheli@cardiologia.org.mx.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Micheli Serra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Electrofisiología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, México DF, México.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Iturralde Torres
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000266:history; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D014672:Vectorcardiography / Q000266:history*
keywords: Animal electricity; Contact electricity; Electricidad animal; Electricidad de contacto; Electrocardiografía; Electrocardiography; Electrometers; Electrovectocardiografía mexicana; Electrómetros; Mexican electro-vectorcardiography; México; Vectocardiografía; Vectorcardiography