1. A method of cardiac monitoring including the steps of acquiring a plurality of analog cardiac signals through leads connected to predetermined locations on the body of a patient, converting said cardiac signals to a plurality of standard digitized ECG lead signals, analyzing a first group of said ECG signals for determining on a real time basis the existence of rhythm abnormalities in the patient's heartbeats, and simultaneously with the analysis of said first group of ECG signals for rhythm abnormalities also analyzing the contours of all of said ECG lead signals, including the signals of said first group of ECG signals, for contour abnormalities including, conduction, infarction, hypertrophy and repolarization abnormalities whereby the occurrence of a rhythm abnormality and its cause can be determined concurrently.