The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-09-14

SERIOUS TROUBLE.
Science Advances to the Rescue and shows
the Only Way to >afety-A Possibility
That the Coming Man VIII lie without
THAI Dangerous Organ.
Will the coming man have a vermi-
form appendix: Who has not heard of
that troublesome little pouch in the alb
dominal regions which serves no good
purpose. but is responsible for thousands
of deaths each year:
Emmons Blaine. Senator Hagan and
hundreds of other persons of prominence
had trouble with the vermiform appen-
dix-and they died.
Now science is asking in all serious
ness whether the vermiform appendix
shall be allowed to exist; whether ii shall
not be removed entirely before it has the
opportunity 20 poison and destroy.
Professor i. G.. Wilder has said fatty
that children should be relieved of the
vermiform appendix, just as they are
vaccinated But other students in this
new field re not Yet ready to pronounce
in favor { so radical a scheme.
physic ms have known for centuries
that the ermiform appendix existed. but
it was . t until 1ssS-not until five years
ago-th t any II Of the profession had
the daring to make all incision into the
abdominal cavity and remove this rank
offend r against the laws of health.
TIL" attack on the vermiform appendix
il bur five years old. but it is being pros
ecuted with remarkable vigor III New
York city, where 1t originated, and trs
reason ls not far to seek. II i simply be-
cause physicians feel sure that they have
evidence that appendicitis, a. disease Of
the yermiform appendix isnamed. causes
more deaths every year than consulnI-
ton, the long Acknowledged chief among
fatal diseases.
The appendix y~ermiformis in normal
condition is about the size Of a lead pen
Gil and about q inches long. 1t is very
well shown i'll a specimen which was re
moved at a clinical lecture at the Pos
graduate Medical school on Jan. 10.
This appendix had liberated and in
creased in size somewhat, but gavea very
fair idea of the part. When perfectly
normal. it SO compares with an ordinary
lead pencil that 1t is most frequently de-
scribed as like it. 1t is a pencil that
writes only death warrants.
Even today very few physicians out
Gde of New York city have any accurate
knowledge of appendicitis or would un-
dertake an operation for the removal of
the appendix. So entirely is the discov-
cry of the disease and the proper method
Of treating it an American development
ct knowledge and practice that among
scientists of other countries today ap-
pendicitis is known as 1.-The American
disease"
Since the recent discoveries removals
Of the cause of all the trouble have been
very frequent. One general practitioner
has had AZ such cases within a year.
Speaking IN the light of recent re-
search. it seems safe to say that appen-
dicitis is far more prevalent than con-
sumption. and in just that proportion
CAUSES more deaths, the chief difference
being that the cause or seat of appended
tbs may be removed bodily with success
m most cases. and success means restor-
stion to perfect health.
The removal of the yermiform appen-
dix in the early stages of an attack of
appendicitis is now held to be one Of the
safest Of surgical operations. while such
m operation. when the case has come To
near its last and fatal stage. is one of the
most desperasf. The sad case of Senator
HAgan is n in point. He had long de-
sired an operation. but it had been de-
layed until too late for an assured sue
cess.
And now, after all these facts are re-
cited, ecurs the question Of whether the
Geming man will have q yerniform ap-
psndix. It is not meant by this to in
4nire whether the coming man will nave
6s appendix slain lest it slay him. A
much wider question is indicated. The
number Of appendices removed in this
city since the discovery that such an OPP
GFstion could be safely performed is very
great, all things considered. One gen
0sl practitioner. not a surgical special
ut. told the representative of The World
that he had removed 100 appendices III
two years. Possibly 1000 appendices
have been removed since the first opera
ton Of this sort i'll 1855. aad most of
these in the past three years.
What follows! If such IA rae is TO be
maintained. there will soon be a very
large proportion of the people of New
York city who have eliminated their
vermiform appendices. and we are glad
Of it.
Will the children Of these people be
likewise possessed of vermiform appen-
dixes: Undoubtedly. But should the
eliminating process be continued for a
1sw generations. how long would it be
before this useless and dangerous. de-
generate and documentary portion of the
body is permanently bred out of exist