Enlarge Descriptive Card Log Book Entry
Rodin Number: 14
E Number: 768
Donor: Johnston
Date: 1890
Size (H x W cm): 13 x 12
The specimen shows a large smooth surfaced thrombus occupying much of the left atrium. A view of the mitral valve from the ventricular side (A) shows what appears to be a stenotic mitral valve (arrow). Although its leaflets are only mildly thickened, the appearance is consistent with rheumatic valve disease.
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Comment
This specimen appears to come from an autopsy performed at the Montreal General Hospital in 1890 (although no specific record of it can be found). Thus, the reason Osler’s name is attached is unclear (although Johnston worked under Osler as a demonstrator in pathology and became pathologist at the Montreal General Hospital after Osler left for Philadelphia). The log book entry 768 seems to refer to a specimen of aorta in which there was an embolus, presumably originating in the cardiac thrombus shown here. A specific E number for the cardiac specimen cannot be found and the aortic specimen has been destroyed.
Osler published an article on "ball thrombi" (Johns Hopkins hospital Reports 1891, II: 56 - 61) in which he documented two cases, one of which was related to an autopsy done at the Montreal General Hospital. Although he states that a specimen was given to the Museum from this autopsy, the case description does not match that of this specimen.
The reference "Surg. Case Book F. XV. P. iii" on the descriptive card cannot be found.