The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-08-30
IT is A USELESS GIFT
THE vERMlFoRM APPENDIX CAUSES
SERIOUS TROUBLE.
Science Advances to the Rescue and shows
the Only Way to safety-A Possibility
That the Coming Man VIII he without
That Dangerous Organ.

the Only Way to Safety-A Possibility
That the Coming Man VIII he without
That Dangerous Organ.
Will the coming man have 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 it shall
not be removed entirely before it has the
opportunity to poison and destroy.
Professor b. 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 are not yet ready to pronounce
in favor of so radical a scheme.
Physicians have known for centuries
that the vermiform appendix existed, but
it was not until 1SSS-not until five years
ago-that any one of the profession had
the daring to make an incision into the
abdominal cavity and remove this rank
offender against the laws of health.
The attack on the vermiform appendix
is but five years old, but it is being pros
ecuted with remarkable vigor in New
York city, where it originated, and the
reason is not far to seek. 1t is simply be-
cause physicians feel sure that they have
evidence that appendicitis, as disease of
the vermiform appendix isnamed, causes
more deaths every year than consump.
ton, the long acknowledged chief among
fatal diseases.
The appendix vermiformis in normal
condition is about the size Of lead pen
Gil and about 6 inches long. 1t is very
we'll shown in a specimen which was re-
moved at a clinical lecture at the Post
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 it is most frequently de
scribed as like it. 1t is a pencil thai
writes only death warrants
Even today very few physicians out
side of New York city have any accurat,
knowledge of appendicitis or would un
dertake an operation for the removal o
the appendix. So entirely is the discov
cry of the disease and the proper method
of treating it an American development
of knowledge and practice that among
scientists of other countries today ap
pendicitis is known as "the American
disease"
Since the recent discoveries removal
of the cause of all the trouble have beer
very frequent. One general practitione
has had AS such cases within 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
tis may be removed bodily with success
in most cases, and success means restor
alton to perfect health.
The removal of the vermiform appen
dix in the early stages of an attack o
appendicitis is now held to be one of tn
safest of surgical operations, while sucl
an operation, when the case has come t,
near its last and fatal stage, is one of tn
most desperate. The sad case of Senate
Hagan is one in point. He had long de
sired an operation, but it had been de
layed until too late for an assured sue
cess.