Abstract
To the Editor.— Dr. Anderson's stimulating article on Mortality From Ischemic Heart Disease (224:336, 1973) saved me considerable work, for only a few weeks ago I had thought of reviewing available mortality data in order to confirm the suspicion detailed in the next paragraph. I believe that in 1920 the only treatments for ischemic heart disease in use that have survived to date are morphine, nitrites, epinephrine, quinidine, xanthines, mercurial diuretics, oxygen, digitalis, and phlebotomy. Then came the organic nitrates, pericardial poudrage, cervical sympathectomy, internal mammary artery ligations, digoxin, procainamide, cardiac catheterization, awareness of lipids and cholesterol and prudent diets, antismoking campaigns, pressor amines, antihypertensive drugs, intensive and then coronary care units, myocardial arterial implants, electroconversion, central venous pressure, cardiac pacing, propranolol, lidocaine, heart transplant, infarctectomy, and coronary bypass surgery. Despite these hailed advances, the mortality curve has escalated without a discernible ripple. This most discouraging and sobering observation serves
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