In presenting this case it is not my aim merely to add one more description of coronary thrombosis to medical literature, but to emphasize further the fact that coronary thrombosis may closely simulate peptic ulcer. Many authors have stated that, not infrequently, coronary thrombosis may be diagnosed as perforated peptic ulcer, gallstones or pancreatitis. There are relatively few instances on record in which these observations have been borne out by case records. I have been unable to find a single case report in which the necropsy revealed coronary pathologic changes when the description given seemed to be clinically typical of perforated peptic ulcer.
One of the first and most complete descriptions of coronary thrombosis is that presented by Herrick.1 He states that the pain occurring during the anginal attacks was usually substernal and radiating to the neck and down the arms, but that it was frequently located in the