In the _American Journal of the Medical Sciences_ for September, 1915,
Barton asserts that all the irregularities of the heart-beat which are
brought about by digitalis tend to be removed by caffeine. Although in
many cases digitalis arrhythmia will spontaneously disappear when the
drug is stopped, instances arise, unfortunately too common, in which
after prolonged digitalis administration the conductive system is so
depressed that serious results may arise. Under these circumstances the
administration of caffeine will be of service and is therefore strongly
indicated. The action appears to be due to the increase in irritability
of the conduction system produced by the caffeine, which antagonizes and
finally overcomes the depressing effects which digitalis exerts upon the
auriculo-ventricular bundle.—_The Therapeutic Gazette._