"The Art of Learning Medicine"

Appleton-Century-Crofts, NYC, l974

May H. Lesser

This etching with water color depicts the performance of a carotid arteriogram, which is an x-ray of the cerebral circulation. The patient was sedated, and the professor helped the resident place a catheter in the common carotid artery in the base of the neck. The resident had been in general radiology practice and had returned to the Medical Center to study this procedure. A small amount of radio opaque dye was injected through the catheter and its passage into the head was followed on a special TV monitor. Then more dye was injected and a very rapid sequence of x-ray films was taken of the head. The test measured both speed of circulation and the condition of the blood vessels going to the brain. At the instant of injection, the film changer next to the patient’s head made noises that sounded to the patient like a herd of horses running through the room. The patient did not move, possibly because he knew if he did the sequence would have to be repeated. The arteriogram showed certain vessels failed to fill. This may have caused the patient’s loss of memory. The professor afterwards showed the patient a ball point pen and asked him what it was. The patient said you write with it, but could not name the object.