The Pathogenesis of Coronary Occlusion

Abstract

With great courage Dr. Morgan has plunged into one of the most controversial medical subjects of the time and has produced a carefully written, well-balanced, and accurate monograph. Because of his training as a pathologist, the author quite naturally emphasizes the developmental aspects of the disease from the anatomic point of view. He also presents in adequate detail current information on the biochemical aspects of coronary artery disease and coronary occlusion. He has been particularly skillful in separating fact from theory. In the last chapter he states, "The evidence suggests that we may be wrong in regarding atherosclerosis as a specific disease rather than a non-specific reaction by the artery wall to a variety of noxious stimuli." Furthermore, he points out that in the attempt to find the cause of coronary occlusion there has been too much concentration on the changes taking place in the coronary artery and not enough