The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-22
CUT BUT CUT TOOLATE
Simultaneous Death of Two
Appendicitis Patients
At the Santa Fe Hospital After
Operation.
Some Of the Symptoms of Appended
tbs Which Used to be-Called On
fammation of the Bowels"

At 8 o'clock last Friday night ayoung
man. p years Of age. was placed on the
operating table at the Santa Fe hospi-
tai in this city and operated upon for
appendicitis An hour later an older
man by some Is years was placed on
the same table and underwent SINH
lar operation for the same trouble.
Yesterday afternoon funeral services
were held over the remains of both
The young man was Paul L. Mitchell,
the son of d well known farmer resid-
ing at Auburn The older man was
Martin Paisley, a painter employed at
the Santa Fe shops in this city whose
home was at 1868 East Third street
Paisley died at o'clock Saturday even
ing and Mitchell at 8 o'clock Sunday
morning.
When the knowledge of intestinal
surgery becomes thoroughly dlmused
among all classes of mem berS OF the
medical profession, and the fear of
surgical operations fades from among
the laity, then viii the mortality rate
of appendicitis decrease. Tt was these
two existing conditions which We're re-
spOnslble for the requiem mass and
funeral hymn being sung over the dead
bodies of Martin Paisley and Paul
Mitchell yesterday.
When Paul Mitchell was brought to
the Santa F'e hospital in this city from
his home at Auburn late Friday after
noon he was in a greatly emaciated
condition and utterly exhausted. For
three weeks he has lain in his bed at
his home and each succeeding day of
that time had seen him a little weaker
than the day preceding and his system
more thoroughly under the influence of
the septic poisoning due TO the sup
purating appendix. An operation was
his only hope for life. and this was
performed, but his exhausted system
was unable to rally from the shock
The history given by Mitchell was
that of intense pain in the right lilac
region attended by nausea about three
weeks ago. He had had similar attacks
he
ted by his physician tOsslight intestinal
trouble, and after a, few days treat
ment regained his usual health, and he
of course supposed the last attack
would pass off in the same wayInstead
he gradually grew worse, the pain be-
came steadier and more intense, the
vomiting continued at more frequent
intervals, and he grew weaker day by
day His parents became alarmed at
his condition, and physician from
IOpeka was called In consultation with
the physician at Auburn. This was a
week go.
The result of the consultation was an
immediate diagnosis of appendicitis
and an operation was advised. The
fear of the surgical knife. however, held
back the consent of both the parents
and the patient. and it was not until
after another consultation on last Fri
day morning that arrangements were
made to transfer the young man to the
Santa Fe hospital.
He was brought to the hospital on
mattress placed in an express wagon
without the least discomfort, and at
o'clock he was wheeled into the opera
ting room and placed on the table.
When the incisiOn in the right abdOmi-
nal region was made it was found that
the vermiform appendix had been en-
Ilrely destroyed by Inflammation and
was reduced to pus- The abscess cav
ity was thoroughly cleansed and
drainage tube inserted, but the aid of
the surgeon came too late. and after
lingering for 36 hours the patient died
Had the operation been performed ear
lier the result would undoubtedly have
been otherwise.
The history given bv Martin Paisley
was similar to that given by Mitchell
He stated that he had in the last six
years suffered 10 or y similar attacks,
but that they We're never diagnosed to
be anything more serious than slight
intestinal ailments. In other words
his physician had never recognized
them as attacks of appendicitis He
had always recovered after being con-
fined to his bed a few days, and never
for moment realized that each sue
ceed1ng attack was wearing away the
walls of the appendix and bringing him
nearer to the grave
on Monday night.a week ago. he was
taken Ill with an attack of pain and
vomiting, similar to the other attacks
with the exception that the pain was
more intense and the vomiting more
frequent He called in q physician. but
as before the nature of trouble was not
recognized, and he continued to grow
worse until on Friday afternoon he was
removed 10 the hospital IN the hope
that something might be done to re-
heve his suffering.
On examination at the hospital on
the same afternoon it was found that
the man had been attacked with an
pendicitis. and that the appendix had
perforated and general peritonitis set
in. There was but one chance for re-
cOvery, and although that was very
meagre, it was decided to attempt it
He was accordingly operated on an
hour after young Mitchell was taken
from the table. 1t was found that the
entire abdominal cavity was ia a sep
tic condition, and that not only the ap-
pendiN but a portion of the intestines
had perforated through
The appendix and the affected Dor
ton of the intestine was removed and
the abdominal cavity washed out. As
in Mitchells case however. the aid
came too late, and the sufferer died 20
hours after the operation.
Had the true nature of Martin Pas
ley $ allment been recognized in time.
ne would probably be alive today
The burial services over Martin Pas
ley We're held at the German Catholic
church yesterday afternoon. He was a
member Of the Sons of Herman. and
members Of that order acted as pail
bearears-
Paul Mitchell was buried at Auburn
yesterday afternoon. He was a cousin
of Patrol Driver 4 T24r,7r-