Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1362

ALLAN BURNS (1781-1813) Observations on some of the most frequent and important diseases of the heart; on aneurism of the thoracic aorta; on preternatural pulsation in the epigastric region; and on the unusual origin and distribution of some of the large arteries of the human Printed by James Muirhead, for Thomas Bryce and Co.; John Murray, and J. Callow, London 1809 iv [2] 322 pp. 21.1 cm.

Although Burns died when only thirty-two, he nevertheless made several important contributions to cardiology. Burns never received a medical degree but lectured on anatomy in Glasgow and assisted his brother John (see No. 1311), who was surgeon to the Royal Infirmary and the first professor of surgery at Glasgow. Not all of Burns ideas were correct in light of today's knowledge, but his concept of the heart was surprisingly modern as indicated by his statement that "The heart, from the intricacy of its structure, and from its incessant action, is liable to many diseases, and these from the importance of the function of this organ, are at all times highly alarming. Some of them are extremely insidious in their commencement, are attended with obscure and perplexing symptoms, and in their result are almost uniformly and speedily fatal" (p. 1). He was among the first to suggest that angina pectoris occurs as a result of coronary obstruction. Burns classified heart diseases into three groups and recognized six types of congenital cardiac anomalies. He described unilateral paralysis of the diaphragm caused by pressure on the phrenic nerve by an aneurysm in the thorax, discussed the rare condition of heart atrophy, and commented on pericardial adhesions and the symptoms and pathological findings of combined mitral and aortic disease.

See Related Record(s): 1311

Cited references: Cushing B869; Garrison-Morton 2889; Osler 2188; Wellcome II, p. 276

Gift of William B. Bean, M.D