The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-04-06

Iestlnai canal where their being present
Is not regarded as a source OF danger.
When they enter the appendix, however,
it Is supposed to be altogether different
as the lower resisting power OF the organ
makes it peculiarly subject to infection.
Among the evolutionary changes tax
ing place In the appendix and tending to
Its ultimate disappearance may be altera-
lions in the character of Its epithehal lin
ing, which distinguishes it from the lin
ing OF the csecum and render it liable to
bacterial infection. So far as the tissues OF
the appendix are concerned, u progressive
ly lowered vital resisting power would be
the first and most obvious change, result
ing from the disusage or the organ and
it's downward tendency toward final ellmi-
nation from the body as a useless append
Rge
The conclusion is now regarded by med
Ical men as being almost Irresistible that
Infection Is not only the principal and
necessary cause OF appendicitis but that
lt Is also the primary cause. Some infeo-
tious material enters the appendix and
becomes fixed there, owing to the very in
efficient expulsive power possessed by the
part The low vitality and weak resisting
power possessed by the organ constitute
it good field for propagating bacteria and
developing those conditions constituting
the disease of appendicitis
Not a New Trouble.
Diseases of tho appendix are probably
not more frequent than they were hereto
fore unless the evolutionary process which
the vestigial organ Is undergoing makes
it moro apt to be diseased in modern times.
This superstition Is, however, very improb-
able, as the work of evolution is so slowly
performed and is marked by such slight
increments of change that during the en-
tire period comprised in the history of the
human race the organ has probably under
gone no appreciate change.
1t is only within the last six years that
disorders of the appendix have been refer
red tosthe real seat of the trouble. Though,
as before stated, the true pathology Of APP
pendicitis was known more than 30 years
ago, this knowledge did not become gen
orally diffused, ana physicians almost in
yariably in their diagnoses referred the
trouble to the c&c"um or adjoining parts
This circumstances, it is quite obvlous, 40
counts for the frequency with which we
have heard of diseases of the appendix in
recent years IA compared with the pauclty
of mention previously.
Investigations on the subject Of the ver-
inform appendix have led TO the opinion
| being almost invariably held by physio!o-
cistS that the organ IS q useless one, while
there cannot be any diversity OF opinion
as to its being n dangerous one. Inc
science and natural theology of few de-
| cades ago held the view that every species
was of Independent origin ana every struc-
| ture designed for use in tho organism in
| which it occurred The student of COM
| parative anatomy, however, who extends
| his researches beyond al single species Will
| become aware that there are structures III
| the animal economy the presence OF when
! cannot be accounted for or function DEM
| onstrated by the study Of them i'll relation
| TO the organism in whioh they exist. inc
yermiform appendix OF the ciecum, from
| one to five inches in length and one-third
| of an inch in breadth, is in this category,
| and having survived it's usefulness it has
| become dangerous.
| Begging The question.
| The little rudimentary organ is not,
| however, without its uses, az 1t supplies
| the advocates of evolution with conf1r-
nation of their theory. Professor Drum
| mond In his recently published book,
Tho Ascent of Man, seizes upon tho
| appendix with ayidity and parades 1t be-
fore his readers with evident pride as q
| piece OF evidence which would convict
| them in any court of having disagreeably
close relationship with creatures OF very
low grade in the geological scale.
Appendicitis has been sometimes spoken
| of as q fashionable disease, but why 1t is
| difficult to say. Gout and mecrim were
| long regarded as aristocratic disorders and
| as comforting q certain kind of dignity
| upon the sufferer, as the first inferred
rich wines and high living, and the sec
| ond presupposed highly developed nerv-
a