First description of auricular fibrillation as a cause of clinical perpetual arrhythmia. See also the paper in Heart, London, 1909-10, 1,306-72.

Sir Thomas Lewis was a pioneer in the application of electrocardiography to clinical medicine. His book was both an exhaustive treatise on the subject for its time, and a valuable bibliographical source. Second edition: The mechanism and graphic registration of the heart beat, 1920; third and last edition,1925.

The first textbook of electrocardiography.

Experiments designed to identify the "origin of the contraction wave in the mammalian heart." Three photographic plates depict numerous electrocardiographic recordings. "From 1910 to 1916, Lewis and his associates performed classic experiments in which they outlined the sequence of electric activation of the heart." Burch 135. Citing this research, Arthur Hollman notes "Lewis was now at the peak of his electrophysiological studies which aimed to show the electrical events underlying cardiac contraction and his experimental work was remarkable for its scope and technical virtuosity" (Arthur Hollman, Sir Thomas Lewis, London, 1997, 58-60.)

Digital facsimile from the Royal Society at this link.

Medical Research Committee Special Rept. No. 8. Sir Thomas Lewis described as “effort syndrome” the condition of disordered action of the heart known as “Da Costa’s syndrome”.

Lewis postulated that a histamine-like substance (“H-substance”) was responsible for the anaphylaxis symptom-complex. See also The blood-vessels of the human skin and their responses, 1927 (No. 797).

Vaso-vagal syncope.