THE PROGNOSIS OF ACUTE ENDOCARDITIS IN CHILDHOOD

Abstract

This study was undertaken because of the statements of certain physicians that children never recover from rheumatic heart disease and the statements of certain pathologists that the Aschoff bodies, which they believe to be pathognomonic of this condition, never disappear, and that, in consequence, the disease is at best never more than quiescent and cure is impossible. My impression was that these statements were not in accordance with my own clinical experience. I endeavored, therefore, to find out whether or not my impression was justified. I am certain that the last word concerning rheumatism has not been said. In fact, I am not sure that I know what rheumatism is. I do not know whether or not the lesions in the heart in what is called rheumatism are due to allergy. I am not sure that it is always possible to tell whether or not the valvular lesions are vegetative;