The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-14
"rhe American pissase. =,

The American Disease"
II is probable that many 81 those who
read ia the MoRNIN0 News a day or two
ago an item referring % an operation
upon Mr. John W Maclev for append
citis were, for the first time, made aware
that there exists in the human body an
absolutely functionless orran-if it may
be called an organ. As far as science is
yet bile 10 discover, nature, in the matter
of the vcrmiform appendix, for once
made a mistake. For the little quill-likc
appendix from the ascending colon of the
stomach starts from nowhere and ends
al nothing so TO speak, and does moth
ing but make trouble en- route. II cannot
be an aid 70 the digestive apparatus, for
it is without glands, nerves or muscles,
and may be removed without affecting
the health of the patient.
However, it may be that the little an
meyer, now that it is coming TO be dis
cussed by learned men. WI be seized
upon by the advocates of the Darwinian
theory as offering strong arguments in
that theory's favor. For il has been as
certained that, while in man the verni-
form appendix exists only as q rudimen-
tary organ, without use in the internal
economy, it is, IN the lower order of ami
mails, a developed organ, richly endowed
with glands, and performs specific Offices
In the ape, the alleged connecting link be-
tween man and the lower order of ami
mails, the vermiform appendix exists in
what might be termed a middle state
larger than in man, smaller than in dogs,
and having few glands.
The vermiform appendix is at present
receiving more attention from physicians
than it ever received before. II is as
serted by some of the medical authorities
that Inflammation of the appendix, other
wise appendicitis, kills more people an
nually than does consumption; hence it
is quite natural that the profession should
be paying especial attention to it. One
physician, a pronounced enemy of the
appendix, regards it as such fruitful
source of disease, that he advocates the
extirpation of the appendices from all
children during infancy. There is, he
says, as much reason for doing this as for
vaccinatiDg them.
As mentioned in the MORNING News
the other day, American physicians lead
the profession of the world in the treat
ment of appendicitis. Indeed, in England
Germany and France, the disease is
known as "the American disease" from
the fact that, apparently, none but the
Americans understand it. $50 entirely is
the discovery of the disease and the
method of treating it an American devel-
Opment," says a writer in the New York
World, chat among scientists of other
countries to-day appendicitis is known as
the American disease" How much inter
est is felt in the discoveries is thus set forth
by the writer quoted CAT the Interna-
tional Medical Congress, which is to be
held IN Rome next September, there will
be gathered skilled surgeons from all
over the world; and the magnet which
will draw many there who might not usu-
ally find it convenient to attend the con-
ference of the congress is the desire to
learn of the American disease and the
success of the many operations which
have been performed in New York city
and In New York city almost exclusively
since 1885 There will doubtless be a
slight professional scepticism, for there
are fads in medicine as well as in all
other things, and the delegates from New
York will 90 prepared to meet all objec
tons with ocular proof of the various
forms which appendicitis produces in the
degenerate appendix vermiformis.
There win be no dif1culty in making
this showing, for since the recent dis
cOVerieS removals of the cause of all the
troubles have been frequent. One general
practitioner has had forty-eight such
cases within year, and the record of
each case, with the diseased appendix
removed, will form a part of the argument
used at the congress in Rome to substan-
tiate the assertion of the American sur
geons that they have discovered the most
fatal of all diseases, and also a most sue
cessful and permanent cure"