Death from coarctation of the aorta occurs sometimes from rupture of a mycotic aneurysm in the aortic wall. Hamilton and Abbott1 mention four such deaths in 200 persons with coarctated aorta, and Evans2 mentions two in twenty-eight. In the case reported here the aorta also broke, but it was involved from without by suppurative mediastinitis. Part of the abscess wall was formed by the aorta and esophagus.
REPORT OF CASE
Clinical History.
B. P., an Italian laborer, aged 35, a patient of Dr. F. H. Straus, was admitted to the Presbyterian Hospital on three occasions. The first was Sept. 26, 1927, when he came in with bronchopneumonia. He had worked in coal mines at hard manual labor for many years and there had never been any symptoms referable to the cardiovascular system. Physical examination revealed, besides the bronchopneumonia, an enlarged heart, palpable and visible pulsations in both suprascapular