Myocardial infarction and angina pectoris in the history of Polish medicine. Part 1. Discovery and understanding of the disease

This review presents the most important achievements associated with the understanding of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction in Poland. The author describes the contribution of physicians living on Polish soil to scientific knowledge in this field. The beginning of Polish interest in cardiac diseases are associated with an eminent medieval physician, Thomas of Wrocław. In Part 1, a history of studies on myocardial infarction ends with establishing the first diagnosis of myocardial infarction as the cause of death in patients with angina in the mid‑19th century. While discussing the contribution of Polish physicians to the worldwide knowledge about myocardial infarction, crucial facts associated with understanding of angina pectoris in other countries have been presented. The discovery of the pathomorphological features of ischemic heart disease and its relation to clinical signs or symptoms has been reminded to the readers. Eminent and well or less known Polish forefathers of medicine are recalled, including Adam Christian Thebesius, Józef Chrzczonowicz, Jan Cenner, Andrzej Janikowski, Józef Rompalski, Józef Pawiński and Edward Korczyński.