Enlarge Descriptive Card Log Book Entry (none)
Rodin Number: 17
E Number: 127
Donor: Ross and Osler
Date: 1877
Size (H x W cm): 17.5 x 19.5
The specimen shows left ventricular hypertrophy (corroborated by a measured weight of 610 g at autopsy) and biventricular dilation.
Comment
The descriptive card indicates that the cardiac abnormalities are the result of “over-strain (“athlete’s heart”)”. Osler's detailed description of the pathologic findings is given in the autopsy protocol (
rodin_oslerian_pathology_2015.pdf). The case was also published in the Canada Medical and Surgical Journal 1878, 6: 385 - 395. Osler confessed in the published report that he was unsure of the cause of the hypertrophy at the time of the autopsy. However, "enquiries about the past life of the man" showed that he had worked as a blacksmith and a laborer and Osler speculated that muscular over-exertion might have been responsible by interfering with the passage of blood through the systemic blood vessels, resulting in an increase in arterial pressure. Today, it is known that chronic rather than episodic hypertension is the cause of the hypertrophy. Although the findings in this specimen are consistent with hypertensive cardiac disease, the possibility of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy might also be considered.
The reference to “C.M. St Mar. 1898” on the descriptive card is unclear. George Ross was Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean at McGill (1889-92).