Path. [mod.L. f. Gr. ταχύ-ς swift + καρδία heart.] ‘Abnormal paroxysmal rapidity of the heart’s action’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.).
1889. Lancet, 2 March, 442/1. Those nerve cells and fibres which are concerned in the production of the tachycardia. Ibid. (1891), 2 May, 1012/1. Dr. Wood proposes the restriction of the name ‘tachycardia’ to those cases in which very violent heart action occurs without obvious reason.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 813. Tachycardia … is improperly applied in the sense of mere rate; it is the name of a particular disease.
So Tachycardiac [cf. CARDIAC], a. adj., of or pertaining to tachycardia; b. sb. a person subject to or affected with tachycardia.
1898. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 828. The tachycardiac attacks have been the cause of this disposition. Ibid., 832. One of my tachycardiacs began to ride a bicycle two years ago, and with much advantage.
