Congenital Idiopathic Hypertrophy of the Heart

It seems unlikely that the hidden defects in germ plasm or embryonic environment that are responsible for congenital abnormalities in infants will soon be discovered, although it is possible that the primitive tissues involved in any particular anomaly may be determined. Although there are several theories to explain the changes accounting for the condition known as congenital idiopathic hypertrophy of the heart, none seems satisfactory. In the case here described, gross and microscopic examinations of the heart showed no obvious mechanism explanatory of the condition. No investigation was made of the capillary bed, congenital narrowing of which has been suggested by Emerson as a possible cause of the abnormality. The case is reported because of the clinical observations leading to the antemortem diagnosis, the proof by necropsy, and the contribution to the study of heart disease made by the family history. Moreover, reports of the anomaly proved by autopsy have