The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-24
THE lAYMAN AND APPENDICITIS.

To the Editor Of the Intelllgencer.
sI2:-In these days OF newspaper edu-
cation It seems that everybody has
right to know little about everything,
So think I'm only conventional when
attempt to air my views as q laymaa on
a subject that ought to be considered en-
tlrely professional.
We hear a great deal about a frlghtful
malady called appendicitis nova days,
while the older members OF the present
generation remember that their youth
was not made unhappy because of a
horrid fear that this modern monster
would carry them off into an early grave
with only the usual few days notice. Two
questions naturally arise, first, why is
appendicitis so frequent nowadays.
Second. what causes this dread disease?
The answer to the first question leave
to the medical profession without discus
sion and they say I'VE are keener now
than we used to be. What Is now appen-
dlcltis. used to be inflammation of the
bowels and perltonitls." The second
question Is the one that concerns us lay
men. because the cause has to do with
the prevention
Some sensation mongers, through
ignorance, we hope, and not through
malice. have taken such great palms to
alarm the public with the Idea that berry
seeds, even particular kind of berry,
are the cause OF this affection.
Now 1t must have occurred to every
body who has eaten food containing
seeds that he has escaped 80 often In his
Iaa fft1 al "a Mt "a
his three score and ten," that there
might be something loose In the berry
theory" The public stampedes, often
time, In Its conclusions The more sur
prlsing, or even ridiculous the new idea
advanced, the more likely Is everybody"
to accept It. Fruit dealers have noticed
that their trade is falling off because
people are afraid 10 eat berries. There
was an article In the Intelllgencer some
weeks ago, copied from the Medical Re
cord, medical Journal Of high repute, In
which a California doctor, who lives
where the most fruit is grown and eaten
in this country, showed / Z. ~ rela-
ton seeds have to appendicitis, because
there had not been a case of this disease
In many years. l have asked several
reputable doctors about this question,
and It seemed 10 amuse them 10 think
there was SO much alarm about eating
berries,
But then we should not wonder about
such a general misrepresentation, for
there was a day when the lightning rod
man found victim In the owner OF every
house and this self styled protector OF
human lives and property told as Won
derful stories about the exact method OF
claiming lightning as does the self
anolnted dellverer OF human lives tell OF
the dangers of eating seeds. have been
referred 10 a standard medical work, and
Il can be said about II, that II IL new,
in fact, almost the latest thing out,
called "a System of Surgery" by DR..
Dennis, the article on appendicitis being
written by DR.. Hartley. surgeon 10
Roosevelt Hospital, and New York Hos
pltal, in New York city.
Twill Just copy what found under the
head Of
Causes OF ApptndicitiI.
1. Predlsposing causes-(a) Atory OF
large intestine, as seen In great eaters,
and persons recovering from typhoid
fever, &c. % Age, most frequent be-
tween ten and twenty years, Next be-
tween twenty and thirty years. (c) Pre-
vlous attack of appendicitis, especially
when the matter In the intestine is hard
| td) Sex, proportion Of male cases To te-
males, ia four to one. (d) Anatomical
pecularltes in the appendix.
The occasloning catises-(a) Indlgcs-
ton. % Exposure TO cold, provoking
wrong movements in the intcstines. (c)
| Violent efforts, especially In thise With
objective disturbances, who take up some
violent form Of exercise after long lnac-
tlvIty, as bicycle riding.
Now that In the opinion OF scientific
observer Of this disease, n man who has
done n large share Of all the operations
In two large hospitals, in the largest city
| IN this country. Aud now. where, oh,
where, may ask, are the dreaded berries
aud their fatcd seeds.
hut lts the same old story, T., 7. Bar
mum understood II long ago, when he
said "The Anglican people love to be
humbugRed."
Let the berry advocate find anything
| like intelligent and honest proof for their
nightmare, before they die OF fright.
But Pope Rlld'
~ little learning IN dangerous thing
Drink deep. or taste not the PIcrlnn
spring" LAhMAN'
Wheeling, July ~
-
WIN Nat he Htspnnsihie.