[New data in cardiology: the electric charge of the heart]

This study emerging from profound consideration of the basis of vectorcardiography reveals a new electric model of the heart, the starting point for a computer programme of which only the principle is described. Noting inadequacies of vectorcardiography linked to necessary but possibly excessive simplifications, the author suggests a solution based only on Einthoven's postulate of a single dipole: at each instant during the cardiac revolution, the positions of point N, the centre of negative charges and origin of the dipole, of point P, the centre of positive charges and extremity of the dipole, and the value of the load borne by this dipole are calculated. The classical orientations of septal, parietal and basal vectors are thus found. It is shown that electric charge follows a bell-shaped curve and that the velocity of the dipole is compatible with that of the depolarisation wave, in contrast to velocities given by vectorcardiography. The trajectory of the dipole, a veritable "dipologram" visualises breaks in continuity which are interpreted. This new method has the advantage of being entirely confirmable: the dipole provided by the programme enables the calculation of potentials. Comparison between measured potentials and calculated potentials ensures the reliability of results provided by this programme. This method is totally in contrast with conventional vectorcardiography: the dipole is entirely mobile regarding both its origin and extremity, its site in the thorax is precisely identified, and its length is calculated, together with its velocity and the charge which it carries.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)