The Washington times., 1894-04-09
OIL CURE FOR APPENDICITIS.
Is the Knife Used in Many Cases Where
1t Is Dangerous?

1t Is Dangerous?
(From the Utica Morning Herald
Now the doctors have discovered that ap-
pendicitis no more needs the knife than collie
does. Dr. N. o. Terry, man Of the highest
rank in the profession, OF Utica, N. l., said
recently in Chicago that he had treated
eighteen cases with oil and all successfully.
SO one more fad comes down to the average
scale OF medical cases.-St. Louis Globe
Democrat.
A Herald reporter interviewed DR.. Terry
Inst evening regarding his treatment Tor ap-
pendicitis. The latter said;
MY treatment is in line with my theory OF
the cause of pain, inflammation. fever, and tho
final suppuration which ensues If the appen-
dcit,s is left to itself. II the patient can take
castor oil, it is to be preferred. OF course the
desc should vary, in accordance with the age
and popularity Of the Individual, from two to
four drachms every three hours. Iftnis could
not be retained, and the case were urgent, I
should give from five to ten grains of calomel,
with twenty to thirty grains OF bicarbonate of
soda in glass OF water, repeating in three to
six hours, If necessary. l should not hesitate
to give thirty grains in this matter, although l
have never been obliged to give over twenty.
/ have seen no case oil salvation, the bicar-
Donate OF soda seeming to prevent such con-
dition. Cases OF less urgency may be relieved
OF constipation. or fecal imraetion, by the use
OF some OF the mineral waters.
1T matters not whether you have a ease Of
absolute obstruction, strangulated or incar-
cerated hernia. or appendicitis, the treatment
holds good. Please bear in mind that liz all
of these conditions the mucous membrane
and muscular coats of the intestines are in a
state Of irritation or inflammation, and are
contracted or paralyzed from the abnormal
iua 10 irop nd ctr .inti inn
should give in this stage from one-half to
two ounces Of sweet oil every three to six
hours until the temperature became normal.
In all of these condiiions-I mean whether
you have a case OF appendicitis, obstruction.
or strangulated or incareerated hernia which
has not reached the stage Of gangrene or sup
puration-you may expect the same iavo-a-
bic results within twenty-!our hours-a re-
duction of the temperature. a relaxation OF
the muscular coats OF the intestines, and con-
sequentiy n subsidence Of the Inflammation.
As an auxiliary treatment l keep constantly
applied to the abdomen a hot faxseed poui-
tice, over which has been poured hot sweet
Gil.
.'Cnquestionabiy the knife can save cases
In the suppuratiye stage of appendicitis when
you are called in late. and 1t is here that the
skill ofthe surgeon can In the majority of
cases save life. The press in America and in
Europe for the last few months has printed
interviews held with various distinguished
surgeons. in which the majority OF opinions
has been that the surgeon knife has been too
frequently used. DIR. Bull, of New York. in
his laparotomies, has taken particular pains
to note the condition OF the vermiform
process, and has found that fully flve-sixths
of them have undergone pathological
changes
Now. although ii is true that the vermiform
appendix is subject to Inflammation from
mechanical obstruction, from such causes as
grape seeds. cherry stones, etc., the truth is
that most OF the cases of appendicitis result
from an iniiammatory action due to various
forms of catarrhal difficulties incident to fecal
concretions. drastic purgatives. colds. etc. In
all such cases the iumen OF the appendix on
the cRcal side is contracted by inaammatory
products. Such being the case. the relaxing
effect OF the sweet oil brings about Alternative
changes Of the mucous membrane, restoring
it to its normal tone.
Il have yet to lose a case of appendicitis,
although l have had twenty, and the cases
where have been called in consultation have
all lived. The treatment is appropriate for
foreign bodies. such as gooseberry seeds.
beans. etc.. in the appendix. as well as in ca
tarrhal conditions. 1t seems to me the pro-
fession has forgotten the peristatic action of
all tubular structures. Unless arrested by
opiates they are ever in motion. Then why
should not the circular and longitudinal flbers
of the appendix rid the lumen of foreign
agents when they happen to get there, espe-
cially if irritation and contraction are pre-
vented by sweet oil. and relaxation and good
fabrication are substituted?"