To the Editor:—
In reviewing the literature on the Pickwickian syndrome (cardiopulmonary-obesity syndrome), we repeatedly found a reference to the following article: Piorry, P.A.: Influence de la pesanteur sur le cours du sang; diagnostic de la syncope et de l'apoplexie, J Hebd Med2:292, 1826.A fine, full-sounding citation, conjuring up the picture of a learned physician disclosing his latest findings in elegant French to a distinguished assembly of equally learned, equally bearded colleagues! It seems to be so pertinent, too: "The influence of heaviness (obesity?) on the blood circulation," and of course reflects splendidly on the painstaking researcher who, poring over dusty tomes in a collection of rare medical journals, discovered this gem, perhaps the first attempt to establish a connection between obesity and syncope.It proved rather difficult to locate the original article, especially when we learned that Journal Hebdomadaire de Médecine, according to the Union List