By a peculiar arrangement of the fibers of the heart, a wound transverse to one layer of fibers is in the direction of another layer, and to a certain extent, therefore, valvular in function; it is probably from this fact that punctured wounds of the heart are often attended with little or no bleeding.
Among the older writers, several instances of nonfatal injuries to the heart are recorded.

Before the present century scientists had observed game-animals that had been wounded in the heart in the course of their lives, and after their ultimate death such direct evidence as the presence of a bullet or an arrow in their hearts was found.

Rodericus a Veiga tells the story of a deer that was killed in hunting, and in whose heart was fixed a piece of arrow that appeared to have been there some time.

Glandorp experimentally produced a nonfatal wound in the heart of a rabbit.

Wounds of the heart, not lethal, have been reported by Benivenius, Marcellus Donatus, Schott, Stalpart van der Wiel, and Wolff.