Collected Works on Rheumatic Fever

It is perhaps no exaggeration to say that no disease has received more attention during the past 50 to 75 years than rheumatic fever. Already, in 1901, Alfred Pribram wrote a monumental and especially comprehensive monograph of some 500 pages and a bibliography of nearly 2,000 titles (Der acute Gelenkrheumatismus, Vienna: Alfred Höder, 1901). It leaves no phase of the disease untouched. Since then, studies have multiplied apace and many fundamental advances in knowledge of the subject have emerged. The present volume of collected works in rheumatic fever by Leo M. Taran, MD, summarizes his studies and contributions to our knowledge of the disease and its multiform manifestations. Dr. Taran had the opportunity and skill to study children with rheumatic fever throughout its course over a period of 30 or more years at the St. Francis Sanatarium which was devoted to the study and care of children with rheumatic fever.