CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the heart have for centuries attracted the attention of anatomists. It is only in recent years that they have been intensively studied by clinicians. In bringing this subject into the field of clinical medicine the pioneer work of Dr. Maude E. Abbott has been most influential. Following her lead, numerous other investigators have submitted case reports and statistical studies which have served to throw increasing light on the incidence of congenital heart disease and of its various types and on the symptoms and physical signs of individual and of combined lesions. Believing that further statistical studies along this line may be of value, we have thought it worth while to review the clinical and postmortem records of all children who have come to autopsy at the Children's Memorial Hospital during the past fifteen years. All of the patients were under 13 years of age. In the period