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666 electrocardiographic records have been transmitted via telephone from the peripheral Sections of the Cardiology Service of the Arcispedale S. M. Nuova of Florence to the central Unit, during the period november 1976 - June 1978. Transmitters were situated respectively 3, 5 and 15 kilometers from the central set where one or more cardiologists were available along 24 hours. Since the introduction of such tecnique faster electrocardiographic diagnosis in emergency calls was made possible and the immediate presence of a consultant cardiologist in the peripheral Sections required only in exceptional cases. Records of good quality are usually transmitted by this instrumentation (OTE Biomedica, Modello 1181-82) which requires only a minimum of knowledge of electrocardiographic tecnique. Lowering of the conversion voice at either end is avoided by disconnecting the transmitter and the receiving sets at the end of the recording procedure. The low price of such equipment favourably compares with the benefits of its use.

Lab tests designed to reveal the presence of pathological liver and haemopoietic organ alterations were run in 72 alcohol addicts. It was found that chronic alcoholism is more often accompanied by hypoazotaemia (90.28% of cases), increased globular volume (90.28%), increased IgA (85%), decreased blood transferrin (95.45%), and increase Ig A: blood transferrin ratio (90%) than by other signs. Liver biopsy and sternal puncture, together with gastroendoscopy, showed that these signs are constant and early evidence of initial anatomical and functional damage to the liver and blood production organs due to alcohol.