Watson first described axial transverse tomography.

Radioisotopic bone scanning. With B. Low-Beer, H. Friedell, and J. Lawrence.

Introduction of lymphangiography.

Electron optical image intensifier, 1953.

Oldendorf described his experimental system for reconstructing the appearance of soft tissues by measuring radiodensity discontinuities (differences in tissue attenuation) but it was not fully recognized that very high efficiencies could be achieved until the work of Hounsfield (see No. 2700.4).

Computer-assisted tomography (CAT), or computed tomography (CT). Hounsfield received a Nobel Prize in medicine in 1979 for his work. He was the first engineer to receive a Nobel prize in that category.

Lauterbur proposed a workable method for using nuclear magnetic resonance to produce images of tissues.

The standard biography of Röntgen with a detailed history of the discovery of X-rays and the early period of roentgenology. Includes a bibliography of 1044 items on the subject published during the first year after Röntgen’s discovery.

A compilation of pioneer contributions to the technology and methodology of diagnostic roentgenology.

A great deal of valuable information presented in a not always serious manner.

Well-illustrated and carefully documented, incorporating detailed biographies of pioneers. Covers the history before 1930.

Wepfer showed apoplexy to be a result of hemorrhage into the brain. He described four cases, with clinical and post mortem findings. He preceded Willis (No. 1378) in describing the “circle of Willis”. Partial English translation in Ruskin, Classics in arterial hypertension (1956). Digital facsimile of the 1675 edition from Google Books at this link.

First description of “Raynaud’s disease.” For a translation by T. Barlow, see Selected Monographs, London, 1888, pp. 1-199, New Sydenham Society, which also contains a translation of Raynaud’s second paper on the subject.

Nothnagel described the vasomotor type of acroparaesthesia, sometimes called after him.

Mitchell suggested the name “erythromelalgia” for this condition, which is also known as “Weir Mitchell’s disease”. He records four earlier writers on the subject, the first being Graves in 1848. See also his paper in Amer. J. med. Sci., 1878, 76, 17-36.

First description of multiple hereditary telangiectasis (“Rendu–Osler–Weber disease”).

English translation in von Ziemssen’s Handbook of general therapeutics, Vol. 7, London, 1887.

“Schultze’s acroparaesthesia.” Schultze described the simple form of acroparesthesia.

Rendu’s account of multiple hereditary telangiectasis (“Rendu–Osler–Weber disease”).

“Rendu–Osler–Weber disease.” Multiple hereditary telangiectasis was first described by Legg (No. 2707) in 1876 and later by Rendu (No. 2710) and Weber (No. 2714). Reprinted in Medical Classics, 1939, 4, 243-53.

Hypotensive action of thiocyanates first noted. Pauli was the father of the physicist Wolfgang Pauli (1900-1958).

“Rendu–Osler–Weber disease.”

The Keith-Wagener-Barker classification of hypertension. With  N. W. Barker.

Cold-pressor test.

Use of decholin sodium for estimation of circulation time. With B. S. Oppenheimer and R. V. Sagar.

 Goldblatt discovered  the role of the kidneys in the regulation of blood pressure. This was the first of Goldblatt’s papers on experimental hypertension, which established an aetiologic role for renal ischemia in the production of hypertension and established a laboratory basis for its study. Written with J. Lynch, R. F. Hanzal, and W. W. Summerville.

Barker made thiocyanate treatment a practical proposition in hypertension.

Houssay and Fasciolo transplanted an ischemic kidney into an animal from which both kidneys had been removed. Hypertension resulted after establishment of circulation, supporting the view that hypertension is due to a chemical substance with pressor action produced in the ischemic kidney. They later showed that the ischemic kidneys of hypertensive dogs contained an excess of renin. See also Biol. Acad. nac. Med. B. Aires, 1937, 34, 342; J. Physiol. (Lond.), 1938, 94, 281.

The Keith–Wagener classification of fundal lesions. They classified essential hypertension into four groups.

Production of hypertension in rats by constriction of one renal artery, and important studies of the renal changes produced, which included degeneration of the renal arterioles.

Angiotensin. With J. C. Fasciolo, L. F. Leloir, and J. M. Muñoz. Independently isolated by Page and Helmer (see No. 2724.2) and later named angiotensin.

Isolation of angiotonin (angiotensin).

Kempner rice diet for the treatment of hypertension.

Introduction of portal venography for investigation of portal hypertension.

Sassonia emphasized the importance of the pulse in diagnosis, and provided the first recorded description of heart block. Pages 57-61 contain graphic representations of the pulse using dashes of unequal length. Digital facsimile of the 1603 edition from Google Books at this link.

An earlier version was published in an unauthorized collection of the author's writings: Tractatus triplex: De fefrium [sic] putridarum signis et symptomatibus: De pulsibus: et de urinis ... e dictantis ejus ore exceptus, in certa quaedam capita redactus praeloque commissus a Petro Uffenbachio: accessit ejusdem doctrina ... de lue venerea seu morbo Gallico (1600). Digital facsimile of the 1600 edition from Google Books at this link.

First known description of the “tetralogy of Fallot” (see No. 2792). Reprinted in his Opera philosophica, ed. W. Maar, Vol. 2, Copenhagen, V. Tryde, 1910, pp. 49-53. For translation see Proc. Mayo Clin., 1948, 23, 317.

Mayow was the first to locate the seat of animal heat in the muscles; he discovered the double articulation of the ribs with the spine and came near to discovering oxygen in his suggestion that the object of breathing was to abstract from the air a definite group of life-giving “particles”. He was the first to make the definite suggestion that it is only a special fraction of the air that is of use in respiration. His Tractatus, embodying all his brilliant conclusions, is one of the best English medical classics. English translation, Edinburgh: The Alembic Club, 1907. Digital facsimile of the 1907 translation from the Internet Archive at this link. Digital facsimile of the 1674 edition from Google Books at this link. In the second edition of the Tractatus quinque Mayow recorded a case of mitral stenosis, probably the first description. Reprinted in his Medico-physical works, Edinburgh, 1907, pp. 295-97.

Riverius was the first to note aortic stenosis (p. 638 of the above).

First reported case of temporary cardiac arrest with syncopal attacks, the syndrome to which the names of Stokes (No. 2756) and Adams (No. 2745) were later attached.

Vieussens was among the first to describe the morbid changes in mitral stenosis, the throbbing pulse in aortic insufficiency, and the first correctly to describe the structure of the left ventricle, the course of the coronary vessels and the valve in the large coronary vein. He was the first to diagnose thoracic aneurysm during the life of the patient. Vieussens included a classic description of the symptoms of aortic regurgitation in his book. Partial English translation in No. 2241. Digital facsimile from the Medical Heritage Library, Internet Archive, at this link.

First description of aortic insufficiency. Reproduced in Willius & Keys: Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 109-14.

In the above work Lancisi noted cardiac hypertrophy and dilatation as causes of sudden death. He was the first to describe valvular vegetation, and his book gives a classification of the cardiac diseases then recognized. Lancisi’s work laid the foundation for a true understanding of cardiac pathology. There are three different states of the title page of this work, with no definite order of priority established. See P. Kligfield, "Survey of variant title page vignettes in Lancisi’s De subitaneis mortibus," J. Hist. Med. & all. Sci., 1983, 38, 336-39. English translation by P.D. White & AV. Boursy, New York, St. John’s University Press, [1971.]

Senac’s valuable treatise on the heart added much to the knowledge of the anatomy and diseases of that organ; he mentioned the leucocytes, which he considered to belong to the chyle, and he described pericarditis. Senac was the first to use quinine for palpitation.

Morgagni was the founder of modern pathological anatomy. The work was completed in Morgagni’s 79th year and consists of a series of 70 letters reporting about 700 cases and necropsies. As best he could, he correlated the clinical record with the post–mortem finding. Morgagni gave the first descriptions of several pathological conditions. He was Professor of Anatomy at Padua. Selections from the above work are reproduced in Med. Classics, 1940, 4, 640-839. English translation by B. Alexander, 3 vols., London, 1769, (facsimile reprint, New York, Hafner, 1960; Mount Kisco, N.Y., Futura, 1980).

Classic descriptions of mitral stenosis (Letter III) and heart block, Stokes–Adams syndrome (vol. 1, p. 70) are reprinted in English translation in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 177-82. In Volume one, p. 282 Morgagni also reported an authentic case of angina pectoris is recorded by Morgagni; he observed it in 1707.

Nicholls was the first to describe dissecting aneurysm of the aorta, the patient being King George II, to whom he was physician from 1753-60. Nicholls was also the first to give a correct description of the mode of production of aneurysm. Nicholls' pa;er was illustrated with two folding plates of the heart engraved by J. Mynde and printed in two colors (brown and sanguine). These were probably the first color-printed plates in a major scientific periodical.

This "case was that of a rupture of the right ventricle of the heart showing an effusion of blood into the pericardium and an aneurism of the aorta. The King had complained for some years of frequent distress about the region of the heart. His death was due to tamponade by the extravasated blood from a tear in the myocardium, probably caused by a coronary occlusion. Though complicated by a 'transverse fissure in the trunk of the aorta, one and a half inches long' Nicholls' report may be regarded as a contribution to the history of myocardial infaraction" (Leibowitz, The history of cononary heart disease, 83).

Also published in Gentleman's Magazine (issue of November 1762, 520-523.

Sandifort’s beautifully illustrated work on pathological anatomy included records of ulcerative aortic endocarditis, renal calculi, hemias, bony ankyloses, and congenital abnormalities. A good account of the “tetralogy of Fallot” (No. 2792) is given on pp. 1-38 of Vol. 1. For English translation see Amer. Heart J., 1956, 51, 9-25. In quality Sandifort's work is comparable with that of Morgagni, except that Morgagni's De sedibus was entirely unillustrated. 

Three cases of congenital heart disease recorded. Two plates are opposite pp. 417-18 of the journal.

Before  publication of Withering's book digitalis was a widely used folk remedy, occasionally mentioned in the literature. Withering established the correct dosages, and the action of digitalis in edema and on the heart became generally recognized. Withering did not know of the distinction between renal and cardiac edema. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link The copy reproduced does not appear to contain the engraving of the purple foxglove.

Underwood laid the foundation of modern pediatrics. His work was superior to anything that had previously appeared and remained the most important book on the subject for sixty years, passing through many editions. The first edition (p.76) includes the first description of sclerema neonatorum (“Underwood’s disease”). That edition also contains a description of "aphthae of thrush."

In the second edition (1789, volume 2, pp. 122-27) Underwood presented a description of congenital heart disease in children. This was the first pediatric treatise to do so. Also, in the second edition, volume 2, pp. 53-57 entitled "Debility of the lower extremities," Underwood was the first to consider poliomyelitis as an entity.

Morgagni described a case of “epilepsy with slow pulse” (see No. 2734), but Adams has been given the credit for reporting the first clear case of heart block (No. 2745). There is no doubt that Spens reported such a case in 1792.

First clinical description of chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema. The lung on which Baillie performed an autopsy before describing this condition is said to have been that of Samuel Johnson. P. 46: Baillie suggested a relationship between rheumatic fever and valvular heart disease. See also Nos. 2281, 3218, & 3427.

Corvisart really created cardiac symptomatology and made possible the differentiation between cardiac and pulmonary disorders. He was first to explain heart failure mechanically and to describe the dyspnoea of effort. His translation of Auenbrugger’s book on percussion resulted in the universal adoption of that procedure. Corvisart was Napoleon’s favorite physician. English translation, 1812, reproduced 1962.

Burns described endocarditis and reported three cases of mitral stenosis. He recognized the thrill present in the latter condition and seems to have understood the mechanism of a cardiac murmur. He also described unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm resulting from pressure on the phrenic nerve by a thoracic aneurysm. Burns was also among the first to suggest (see p. 136) that angina pectoris is an expression of coronary obstruction. Biography by J. B. Herrick, 1935.

Account of nine cases of rheumatic endocarditis.

David Pitcairn is accredited with the first reference to rheumatism as a cause of cardiac disease, in a lecture given in 1788. Jenner read a paper on the same subject in 1789, but the first clinical report on the subject to be published was that by Wells. Reprinted in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 294-312.

The first monograph on congenital defects of the heart.

Includes the best illustrations of aneurysms and of aortic valvular endocarditis so far published, and the first description on non-sacculated dilatation of the aortic arch (“Hodgson’s disease”).

This work "included a summary of more than two dozen experiments he [Parry] conducted on a variety of mammals. In this book he discussed the pulsatile expansion of the arteries and importance of collaterals. Parry refuted the theory that arterial pulsation was due to an intrinsic property of the vessels themselves. He attributed their motion to the force given to the blood by ventricular systole" (W. Bruce Fye, "Caleb Hillier Parry," Profiles in Cardiology, 71).

Digital facsimile from the Hathi Trust at this link.

First accurate description of the condition which later became known as “Cheyne–Stokes respiration.” Reprinted in F. A. Willius & T. E. Keys: Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 317-20.

Rostan gave an early description of cardiac (“Rostan’s”) asthma.

On p. 396 commences a classic account of heart block with syncopal attacks, the first complete description of this condition. Following the paper by Stokes (No. 2756) the eponym “Stokes–Adams syndrome” was employed to describe this state. Adams recognized a thrill in mitral regurgitation (p. 423). Adams also understood tricuspid incompetence (p. 436). The paper is reproduced in full in Med. Classics, 1939, 3, 633-96.

Aortic insufficiency is usually associated with the name of Corrigan, but Hodgkin’s account antedates Corrigan by three years. 

Hope did much to advance the knowledge of heart murmurs, valvular disease, and aneurysm; he described the second sound of the left side of the sternum in mitral stenosis as “altered” – losing its short, flat clear sound and becoming a prolonged bellows murmur. From his description this became known as “Hope’s early diastolic murmur.” His classic descriptions of cardiac asthma, valvular disease (pp. 307-45 above), and cardiac neurosis are reprinted in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 405-15. Probably published in 1831 (see review in Lond. med. phys. J., 1831, p. 513-22 (Dec.)) although “all known copies seem to have cancel title page dated 1832” (Wellcome Catalogue).

In his wonderfully clear account of aortic insufficiency, Corrigan described the “water-hammer pulse” now commonly known as “Corrigan’s pulse.” He recognized that the hypertrophy of the heart present in this condition is compensatory and not a disease. Corrigan was the last of the famous band forming the “Irish School of Medicine” in the 19th century. Reprinted in Med. Classics, 1937, 1, 703-27.

First recorded example of cardiac catheterization, performed during an unsuccessful attempt to obtain blood from a patient suffering from cholera (p. 100). Second edition as separate pamphlet with a new Foreward, Güstrow, 1834. Digital facsimile of the 1834 edition from Google Books at this link.

Hérisson invented an instrument for recording blood pressure. Translated into English as The sphygmometer, an instrument which renders the action of the arteries apparent to the eye. A memoir... with an improvement of the instrument and prefatory remarks by the translator, E.S. Blundell. London: Longman, Rees, 1835. Digital facsimile of the translation from Google Books at this link.

Bouillaud applied Laennec's technique of auscultation to diseases of the heart. Vol. 2, page 238: “Bouillaud’s disease” – rheumatic endocarditis. Although not first to note the cardiac manifestations of acute rheumatism, Bouillaud was the first to demonstrate the frequency and importance of heart disease co-incident with acute articular rheumatism. The above work includes the first description of a case of mitral disease with articular rheumatism. Translation of the section on the pathology of endocarditis in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, pp. 446-55. 

Sobernheim first used the term “myocarditis.”

Diagnosis of coarctation of aorta during life. Translation in Amer. J. Cardiol, 1965, 16, 253-55.

First clear account of chronic constrictive pericarditis.

An early description of a case of subacute bacterial endocarditis is reported on pp. 227-32 (Case 8).

First description of the presystolic murmur in mitral stenosis. Partial English translation in No. 2241.

First adequate description of pneumopericardium.

Includes (vol. 2, pp. 373-79) a classic description of coronary thrombosis, although not using the term. The patient was Thomas Arnold, the educationist, and the report was signed by Joseph Hodgson and by S. Bucknill, Arnold’s physician.

Stokes’s celebrated account of heart block with syncopal attacks – the Stokes–Adams syndrome (see also No. 2745). Stokes was most interested in the diagnostic value of this condition. The paper is reprinted in Med. Classics, 1939, 3, 727-38. For history of this syndrome see N. Flaxman, Bull. Inst. Hist. Med., 1937, 5, 115-30.

Walshe, physician to University College Hospital, London, was one of the first to recognize the presystolic character of the direct mitral murmur in mitral stenosis.

A classic description of embolism resulting from intracardiac coagula. Reprinted in Willius & Keys: Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 474-82.

Vierordt invented a sphygmograph which acted on the principle that indirect estimation of blood-pressure could be accomplished by measuring the counter-pressure necessary to obliterate the arterial pulsation. This was the first instrument with which a tracing of the human pulse could be made. The paper is the first record of a study with an instrument of precision of the pulse in health and disease. Vierordt expanded this work into book form: Die Lehre von Arterienpuls, Braunschweig, Vieweg, 1855.

On pp. 320-27 is to be found Stokes’s account of fatty degeneration of the heart, in which he so well described the periodic form of respiration now known as “Cheyne–Stokes breathing.” Stokes also gave the first description of paroxysmal tachycardia (p. 161).

Includes an account of the “tetralogy of Fallot” (see No. 2792). Peacock’s book was “the first comprehensive study covering the whole field” (Maude Abbott). Reprinted, Boston, Mass., 1973.

An important account of myocardial infarction, with a histological finding of myocardial necrosis. Abbreviated translation, in German, in Acta med. scand., 1930, 73, 448-50.

The double intermittent murmur over the femoral arteries, diagnostic of aortic insufficiency, has become known as “Duroziez’s sign.” Partial English translation in No. 2241.

The murmur which Fauvel (No. 2754) had called “presystolic” was described by Gairdner, who called it “auricular-systolic.” This paper is important as being largely responsible for the recognition in Britain of the presystolic murmur, previously discounted by most authorities.

First description of the “Austin Flint murmur,” present at the apex beat in aortic regurgitation. Reprinted in Med. Classics, 1940, 4, 864-900.

“Ebstein’s anomaly,” a congenital abnormality of the tricuspid valve. Translation in Amer. J. Cardiol, 1968, 22, 867-72.

First appeared in Virchow’s Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie, Erlangen, 1854, 5, 1 Abt., 385-530.

Classic account of the movements and murmurs in the jugular veins, important in the diagnosis of heart diseases. Potain’s writings were models of clarity and style. A translation of this paper is to be found in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 533-56.

Winge first suggested that endocarditis was due to microbial infection. A translation of part of his paper is in Major, Classic descriptions of disease, 3rd ed., 1945, p. 472.

First description of “Da Costa’s syndrome” – the “effort syndrome” of Sir Thomas Lewis.

One of the first accounts of bacterial endocarditis was given by Wilks, who, in his classic paper on the subject, called the condition “arterial pyaemia.” Reprinted in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 579-84.

“Da Costa’s syndrome.” This was first described by Myers (No. 2768) and is now known as “effort syndrome,” “soldier’s heart,” “disordered action of the heart.” More recently it has been considered an early recognition of one aspect of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Important and exhaustive account of the knowledge of presystolic murmurs. Fagge’s paper also includes many clinical observations relating to the rhythm of heart murmurs and the state of the sounds of the heart in 67 cases at Guy’s Hospital.

Pericarditis epistenocardiaca described.

“Bamberger’s disease” (Pick’s disease, No. 2803).

Heiberg suggested the microbic nature of endocarditis. He described what appeared to him to be the mycelia of Leptothrix in the vegetations of a case of ulcerative endocarditis.

First clear description of pulsus bigeminus. Translated in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 590-99.

Kussmaul introduced the concept of the “paradoxical pulse.”

Analysis of “gallop rhythm.” Partial English translation in No. 2241 and No. 3160.1.

Rokitansky’s memoir on defects of the septum of the heart was his last work, and possibly his greatest. It represented 14 years’ study of the subject.

Includes “Balfour’s test” to ascertain whether the heart is still active, in cases of apparent death.

First description of congenital mitral stenosis, “Duroziez’s disease.”

First description of coronary thrombosis with diagnosis before death. English translation of original report, Amer. J. Cardiol, 1978, 42, 849-52.

Roger drew attention to an important anomaly of the septum, interventricular patency (“maladie de Roger”), demonstrating the presence of a murmur in this condition. This is sometimes called “Roger’s murmur”, although it had been noted by earlier writers. Translated in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 624-38.

First description (p. 106) of myocardial infarction. Leibowitz called this "the most significant contribution by a pathologist to the history of coronary heart disease." He also wrote, "This work not only provides a general description of myocardial changes following a coronary thrombosis, but also includes a very important detail, namely that of the destruction of cell nuclei. Likewise it stresses also the clinical history, since pathological findings largely depend upon the time factor" (Leibowitz, History of coronary heart disease).

Basch’s important modifications of the methods of blood-pressure recording mark the beginning of clinical sphygmomanometry. English translation in Ruskin (No. 3160.1).

“Concato’s disease” – inflammation of the serous membranes. Involvement of the pericardium was later described by Pick (No. 2803).

Fatty infiltration of the heart first described.

English translation, 1884.

First comprehensive description of subacute bacterial endocarditis.

MacWilliam discovered that fibrillar contraction of the heart is due to “a rapid succession of incoordinated peristaltic contractions.” He clearly described auricular and ventricular fibrillation, and showed that ventricular fibrillation could be caused by the injection of certain poisons into the blood stream. His paper is included, with an account of his life, in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 666-678.

The “tetralogy of Fallot.” He gave an important, but not the first, account of this condition (see Nos. 2726.1 & 2761). Abstract translation in Willius & Keys, Cardiac classics, 1941, pp. 689-90.

Important experimental work on cardiac overstrain was carried out by Roy and Adami who considered that mechanical overstrain caused chronic thickening of the cardiac valves.

First description of the pulmonary diastolic murmur – the “Graham Steell murmur.” Reproduced in Willius & Keys, Cardiac Classics, 1941, pp. 680-85.

Bouveret introduced the term “Paroxysmal tachycardia”. Partial English translation in No. 2241.

In his important monograph on disorders of the cardiovascular system, Huchard was apparently the first to use the designation “Stokes–Adams disease”.

First description of a case of death from ventricular fibrillation.

Potain devised a simple portable air sphygmomanometer for blood-pressure estimation.