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FACTS
On
fel rE A. Re P
By
RICHARD C. CABOT, M.D.
Professor of Medicine and of Social Ethics
at Harvard University
ILLUSTRATED
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
W. B. SAUNDERS COMPANY
1926
Copyright, 1926, by W. B. Saunders Company
MADE IN Use Se Ae
PRESS OF
We Be SAUNDERS COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA
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PREFACE
I cannot too strongly insist that a large part of this book
represents not my work but that of others. The necropsies and
)necropsy records of the 1906 cases on which my conclusions rest, are
the work of Drs. James H. Wright and Oscar Richardson. A good
many of these necropsies I have witnessed. AI of their protocols I
have studied in whole or in part. But my task has been merely to
collect, arrange, and at times to interpret the results of these pathol-
ogists’ labors so far as they relate to cardiovascular disease. JI have
made no attempt to decide for myself any question of gross or micro-
scopic pathology but have gratefully accepted and tried to utilize
the decisions of those who did the work.
On the clinical side I have studied and have had abstracted the
ward records of 1906 cases decisively diagnosed post-mortem.
Starting from the post-mortem diagnoses I have worked back into the
clinical records corresponding. A good many of these clinical records
depict the sufferings of patients who were under my charge in the
wards and in a fair number I wrote the record of the cardiovascular
examination and clearly recall the patients. In the great majority of
instances however, the patients were cared for by other members of
our staff and I am confined to a study and interpretation of other
men’s work. Iam indebted to Drs. Paul D. White, Hugh Cabot,
Edward L. Young Jr., William H. Smith, William D. Smith and
Maurice Fremont-Smith for some of the printed discussion of cases.
In abstracting the clinical and pathological records many have
assisted me. Dr. Harry Taylor, now in China, Dr. J. H. Newburgh
of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Byron C. Darling of New York, Dr.
Mary W. Lawson of New London, Conn., Dr. James H. Young,
Dr. E. H. Heath and Dr. W. R. Redden of Boston, Mr. John M.
Porter of the Harvard Medical School and, above all, my secretaries,
Miss Alice G. O’Gorman and Miss Florence Painter, have gathered
and arranged material for me.
My own task has been to put ane and edit this material,
since no one else appeared anxious to undertake so prosaic and
time-consuming a task.
9
614079
IO PREFACE
I appreciate clearly that the data here gathered together would
have been far more valuable in many ways had they represented
throughout the observations of one man. But had this been so, one
set of preconceptions and leading ideas would have guided and per-
haps to some extent marred the observations. There is some advan-
tage as well as a considerable disadvantage in the fact that most of
the observations on which I rest were made without any idea of the
use to which they might later be put.
To all of those whose names are mentioned above, as well as to the
staff of the Massachusetts General Hospital, I acknowledge my
gratitude and indebtedness. I trust that this book may to some
extent carry out their interests as well as mine.
Especially to Dr. Oscar Richardson I am indebted, not only as
one of those by whose daily labors I have profited, but for the time and
pains he has taken in re-reading and interpreting pathological records
and sometimes in re-examining old specimens to clinch or expunge a
diagnosis.
The book differs from all those previously written on heart disease
(so far as I know) in basing its conclusion wholly on the study of
cases which came in the end to necropsy. The chapter on syphilitic
aortitis, for example, was written by abstracting all the necropsies
from 1897 to 1919 in which this lesion occurred and then finding what
was recorded and remembered about them on the clinical side.
It is true that the pathologist may have overlooked something
or mistakenly identified some lesion. But considering the care with
which the necropsies were made and the systematic and detailed
records that were dictated from them at the time, I believe the
percentage of error is small.
If anyone reads and compares the statistical tables, he may be
puzzled to see that the total number of cases of a particular disease
as given in the early tables differs from the same total given in
later tables. This is due to the incompleteness of our records. In
relation to age and sex, for instance, we may be able to prepare a
table based on complete data from 1oo% of the necropsies of that
disease. Yet in relation to the examination of the heart we may
be able to study only 75% of these. Hence the totals of the latter
table will be smaller.
Obviously there is very little about treatment in these pages.
Most of the little that I know on that subject is to be found in the
records or discussions of some of the illustrative cases.
PREFACE 1 a
Very few people should even try to read the whole of this book.
I should advise most readers to read the opening and the closing
chapters, and the summaries at the end of each section, and then
to look over as many of the illustrative cases as seem interesting.
RICHARD C. CABOT.
CAMBRIDGE, MaAss.,
February, 1926.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
PAGE
REVIEW OF 4143 LESIONS IN 1906 CASES OF CARDIAC DISEASE. TABLES OF
PREQUENCY:./§. .. 17
I. In Examining a Patient enced to trays Heart Disense What are the
Diagnostic Expectations Which Experience Justifies?. . . . .... #17
dieeeiew a terial rere ptudietiawt aie uu ei ero ae ee AY be ARE, fh o9
III. Manifest Cardiovascular Lesions. . . . i ORS Ree
IV. Relative Frequency of the Different Garlioumentrs Tesncs eee 26
V. Variations of Necropsy Diagnoses at Different Periods. ....... 28
CHAPTER II
RUSUMATICE HEART DISEASE. “KATA CHOREA.. 8 oie si, le es ep gO
PERIL ENOSS cr UTS ANG COMPUCOLCUC UO On htc te bs (eee Rane wes, eels. 3a
IML ieay dave: eSIONG oy Nag nen Ai carton sone ys Pa og’ te ae OIAR
EEC AImari CAOLLIC LCN Osia man ee aoe tel Strat dr Mee ie ae Soe ue My TAL
iopremecmbinediLesiOnsmeren a etka ean ek el oe Te, peg
Aortic Stenosis and Remeeention: eRe cat mis Ts encase Nighy ica ta a aOS
Pure Aorticukeguroitationiwithout stenosis tc. ei eee 3. B52
WittrAleheQrvilation we mes ee ee ah Ae aa we ot Pe eee) oe 280
SERRE ORGA ci, 7, os, 1 age mem gan eli oe Need wb eae We ok an ae chee AGES
CHAPTER III
SECRET TIGR LLEART IISEASE tent i ILS EN Sel Se cad RNID Maa.) 322
Sypnilizic: Aortitis.- .-2 . us ORE autee >. ht ida eos a cee: Ame 322
Diagnosis of the Disease in Life. . .. . Ste Ween ee Reber meee uk hae: 26
Cardiac Hypertrophy in Syphilitic ernie: TAR Me eae) at) Cate’ 330
General Cardiac Symptoms of Dac AOTUUSH en Attn) oR Lame 331
Cause of Death. .... 1 SOR OE WO CN OPER S Sea ane FE
Special Symptoms of ears ROR, Fe rn ew nan Mae Vi awe keno gin® 333
Dee MACTOSISUOr AN CULISMat, siemtr nme de Nc clea tot let kein wee te 3A
Serv aaculats Om PuCALIONS tamminnr se hen ho bourne) ay Sealy as. 5) 330
SOOT SHI GaN (Ste FY Ok: OA a ME A el ena LE Mey Ue. singe) ek w Ae uk 3390
DDG k Meek el ee cee ne EE le | ety (av faa, ws 402
Dissecting nen rar El ee eh FASS Pe oh a) Se Nice al ste. 4 E2
Septic or Mycotic Aneurism ....... ea Re Sheer AL2
CHAPTER IV
HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASE ..... hi PETE Tey 7028 Uae AUG ae eee Tey bo)
I. Definition. . . . Pe meaner eee mee ive Pee, ATO
II. Hypertensive (urdinacniar aban Ce a nate’. ae ALO
III. Latent vs. Manifest Cases of Hypertensive Heart Tee ae ar Pie: ees ASO
TV The Etiology.of Cardiac Enlargementio0) eo. ie he whe) s 42T
13
14
CONTENTS
PAGE
. Hypertrophied and Dilated Heaits Occurring in Young Persons
Without Nephritis or Arteriosclerosis . . 428
VI. The Largest Hearts. . 429
VII. Degrees of Cardiac Fe entrnts in ipiffereat Lesions. 5 Age
VIII. Cardiac Failure in Hypertrophy and Dilatation... .. ? nea
EX. Physical Signgy eee eer : . 444
X. Blood-pressure and other Data in Ween ; . 445
XT. Diagnosis Actually made in these Cases. . Re
XII. Summary and Conclusions. » 452
GHAPTER®: V
MYOCARDITIS 340) eae ey wae Salted tla cian . 404
I. Chronic Fibrous Manet Ge ER A AS - 404
Il; Myocardial Iniarction.y-e) 14. pasta
IH. Myocardial Abscess. . .~. . . mA:
IV. Cardiac Aneurism . s yet
V. Rupture of the Heart. . 546
CHAPTER VI
ANGINA PECTORIS . ; . 548
Angina and Myocarditis, Son
Blood-pressure and Angina. ...... Ree
The Cessation of Angina with the Advent of General Paachte Contestina 5g Rae
Coronary Thrombosis and Acute Blocking of the Coronary. ....... Son
CHAPTER VII
ACUTE AND SUBACUTE ENDOCARDITIS. ... . Star
Definition and Terminology . YomenOr Dy. PBOx
Types of Acute and Subacute Madecarditis Fein, ol: it S568
Age and Sex. ED ee eI I Oh gts og . 563
Valve Affected. : . 564
Nature of the Inflammatory Pieces ; . 566
Clinical Manifestations . . . . ye.
Symptoms on the Part of the crcnltion ie Sa
Weight of HeartataNecropsy sy 9.9: 7am, <> . 578
Bacteriology. , S878
Associated Lesions . . . ay A,
Duration . 2 Sex
Summaryos. 2 tees . 582
CHAPTER VIII
CHRONIC NON-DEFORMING VALVULAR SCLEROSIS OR ENDOCARDITIS . . 628
Euology. 92 ie . 629
Conclusions . . . . 634
CHAPTER IX
ACUTE. PERICARDITIS): Ss 4a4t Sc Oss
Age and Sex. = 035
Associated Lesions . . . . 636
CONTENTS
Fever and Leucocytosis .
Diagnosis .
Septic Heart F milurs iad Diopey UGpronie Hanctee Convention)
Acute or Chronic Passive Congestion . . .
Pericardial Effusion
Bacteriology.
Murmurs in Acute Berea ME eh ering
Cardiac Hypertrophy in Acute Beprerditie SF Re
Summary .
CHAPTER X
CHRONIC PERICARDITIS . . EEPyatre
Chronic Vestigial Becodiie Sore ha eee
Primary Rheumatic Group. .... .
Secondary Rheumatic Group.
“Age and Sex.
Diagnosis .
Diagnostic ierpiote
CHAPTER XE
THYROCARDIAC DISEASE. é See;
I. The Over- ationstte Heat ce ae,
II. Early Congestive Heart Failure in Miro Disease!
lil. Toxic Death.
IV. Late Congestive Failure in Pitas. insane ond Teophttahnic Gotan
CHAPTER XII
GONGENITAL- HEART DISEASE |. 3 >?
DUMMABY OF THE BOOKS isha. caer:
I. As Regards Heart Disease as a euhole.
II. As Regards Rheumatic Valvular Disease .
III. Aortic Stenosis.
IV. Syphilitic Heart Die
V. Hypertensive Heart Disease.
VI. Myocarditis . 5. Pea ae
VII. Acute and Subacute Bndoetniie Smee S eae soe
VIII. Acute Pericarditis .
IX. Chronic Pericarditis.
X. Thyrocardiac Disease.
XI. Angina Pectoris and Cardiac Tntarcts
T5
PAGE
. 636
7,020
. 037
. 638
. 638
. 640
. 640
. 643
a .OA5
ae ae
‘aay, |
FACTS ON THE HEART
CHAPDER SL
REVIEW OF 4143 LESIONS IN 1906 CASES OF CARDIAC
DISEASE. TABLES OF FREQUENCY
I, IN EXAMINING A PATIENT SUPPOSED TO HAVE HEART DISEASE, WHAT
ARE THE DIAGNOSTIC EXPECTATIONS WHICH EXPERIENCE JUSTIFIES?
The first point on which this book hopes to shed light is this:
when a physician is called to attend a patient who seems to be suffer-
ing from cardiovascular disease, what are the important probabilities
and the more remote possibilities which he should consider? If we
have some basic knowledge about what is rare and what is common,
it may give us valuable clues.
The first and in some ways the most important point of all is to
know that
Most “Heart Disease” is imaginary.
Those who think or fear that they have heart disease usually turn out
on careful examination to be free from it. Nearly 10% of Harvard
freshmen in one of the classes examined by Dr. Roger I. Lee and his
assistants believed themselves to have a ‘‘weak heart” orsome more
definite heart disease. 14 out of 18 successive patients sent to me by
their physicians quite recently for supposed heart disease, had, in my
opinion, perfectly sound hearts. The patient with ‘‘effort syndrome,”’
complaining of his dyspnea, cardiac pain and palpitation, yet with
a normal heart, is not the commonest type. More often it is a
patient who has fainted or been dizzy or had a little precordial pain
and whose physician has heard a (quite harmless) systolic murmur
somewhere in the precordia.
That such cases are more numerous than those with organic
heart disease is difficult to prove, though strongly suggested by the
experience of anyone who has examined many college students and
middle-aged women. But whether or not this pseudo-heart disease,
this groundless fear of heart disease, is as common as I believe it to be, |
it is certainly common enough to make the thought of it an essential
2 17
18 FACTS ON THE HEART
part of our mental furniture whenever we begin the examination of a
supposedly cardiovascular case. For the needless sufferings and
sacrifices of such patients are often very great. To my knowledge
boys have given up their chosen life work, girls their prospect of
marriage, business men their favorite projects because of a false.
diagnosis of heart disease. The fears, disappointments and ailments
resulting from such a diagnosis may be enough to render a person’s
life miserable. And all this one can sweep away by a clear and
positive reassurance based on a thorough examination.’ I know few
greater services that a physician can perform, few that give him
livelier satisfaction.
Narrowing the Field.—Next to this fundamental knowledge of the
frequency of supposed but unreal heart disease, one is helped by
a narrowing of the field of possibilities. That we do not need any
longer to consider and search for fatty degeneration of the heart,
fatty overgrowth upon the heart, brown atrophy, myocarditis, the
senile heart, etc., simplifies our work and makes us more apt to make
a correct diagnosis.
The Commonest Lesions.—This series of 1906 necropsied cases,
(see Table 1) covering all the cardio-vascular material in the 4000
necropsies done at the Massachusetts General Hospital between
1896 and 1919 is enough, I think, to constitute a fair sample and give a
fairly accurate picture of heart disease as one may expect to find it in
most parts of the United States. Certain districts where syphilis or
endemic goiter are especially prevalent will have a higher incidence of
syphilitic or thyrotoxic heart disease, but in most parts of the country
the proportion of the different types will be found, I think, to be
about the same as in New England.”
(a) For example our conclusion that 77% of all heart disease
is due to simple hypertrophy and dilatation of the heart (or hyper-
tensive cardiovascular disease) without valve lesions wil!, I believe,
be found to represent approximately the facts in any large series of
necropsies made in the United States and Canada.
Further results of this study are:
* Of course no comparisons are of value except on the basis of necropsy statistics,
which so far as I know do not exist in this country.
SUMMARY OF MATERIAL IQ
TABLE I1.—SUMMARY OF MATERIAL
A. Total cardiovascular lesions, 4143 in 1906 persons, (out of 4000 necrop-
sied from 1896 to 1919).
B. All cases showing cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation.............. 1209 cases
Adlecasesa without ypertrophoy and dilatation | 3. 5 «<0 ste «cela» sielets 697 cases
CLOTS ee me eeveret FO ele, wrt Myoihtu afta MEM Sie, RAS etek ensia a, rl eid ert eaten s euthekere 1906 cases
{ with other lesions 1053 1200 cases
. 2 *
ie Hvpeciropnyy alld CiUAtatiONi is