Three years' experience of electrocardiography in a general practice.

Electrocardiography has a useful place in general-practice cardiology:(1) by bringing to light unexpected findings thereby altering the diagnostic spectrum and, in some cases at least, management.(2) by acting as a monitor in the continuing management of patients suffering from some forms of cardiovascular disease, and, in particular, from essential hypertension.In 1970 the purchase of a ;Cambridge Transrite' 4-2 battery two-speed electrocardiograph made it possible to test the value of this working tool in a practice population of about 5,300 patients. Before this, members of the medical staff of the Department who needed electrocardiograms for any of their patients made the appointments with the Cardiology Department, The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, or, later, with the nearby Family Doctor Centre of the Scottish Home and Health Department.