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09 - Heart: Acute purulent pericarditis

Osler specimen 09

Enlarge听听听听听 Descriptive Card听听听听听 Log Book Entry

Rodin Number: 18
E Number: 129
Donor: Osler
Date: 1877
Size (H x W cm): 18.5 x 12.5

The specimen shows a heart with attached pericardium opened anteriorly (as seen on (A)). The descriptive card states the pericardium contained a 鈥減int of laudable pus鈥. Osler鈥檚 Autopsy Protocol 听(PDF icon Rodin 221) documents 34 ozs. Although this suggests acute pericarditis, the epicardial surface of the heart and the pericardium (P on back view (B)) are surprisingly smooth, suggesting more chronic disease.

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B

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Comment

The descriptive card indicates the specimen came from autopsy No 337 1897; however, as Rodin points out, this should read 1877. The card also encourages the student to note a 鈥渞eversed triangular area of cardiac dullness with apex superiorly, which would be produced by the effusion鈥. However, the metal card support mounted on the top of the jar has been placed on the back of the specimen 鈥 one wonders how many students have had trouble identifying the area of 鈥渄ullness鈥 they were supposed to observe.

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