The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-26
A DREADFUL DISEASE
INFORMATION OF VALUE TO EVERY
BODY ABOUT APPENDICITIS.

n Dangerous OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Errors
on the Subject-How to Recognize tho
Danger Signs-Betwcen the Ages of Ten
and Thirty It Is Most to BE Feared.
There is IL popular and false notion
that appendicitis is caused by grape
seed, an orange seed or some other foreign
substance getting into the vermiform
appendix. The true cause is the setting
up of inflammation and consequent gan
CREME i'll the tissue of the appendix, us
ually due to insufficient circulation of
blood i'll the part itself. In thousands of
operations which have taken place
many i'll time to save the life of the pa
ticnt and many too late-therc is not
ono authenticated case of foreign sub
stance, such as a seed, being found i'll
the appendix. This will be more fully
realized when one has i'll mind that the
interior of the appendix is only big
enough to admit medium sized darn
ing needle. Its great liability to disease
is due entirely to its low order of vital
reSistance-that is, it is an organ which
appears to have no actual use in the
present machinery of man, but III the
earlier stages of mans development it
is believed to have been large pouch
that played an important part i'll the
digestive operations of the human sys-
TEN. BY ages of disuse it has gradually
shrunk to its present dimensions and is
known to science us vestigial organ,
one which is only Il remnant of its
former self and possessing but vestige
of its original functions.
This becomes more clear if some other
parts of the body which now seem 10
have no use are considered The tonsils
arc i'll this class and also the wisdom
teeth, and both are peculiarly subject to
disease
The appendix is i'll one of the most
delicate and vital parts of the body, in
the peritoneal cavity, usually to the
right of the center of the abdomen.
But i'll rare instances it has been found
on the left side, and still more rarely
otherwise displaced. This discovery,
made very recently, has caused the sur
gcons to be extremely careful to locate
the trouble before using the knife
But science never stands still 1t al
ways pushes its Investigations beyond
mere appearances, and out of the myte-
ries of nature develops facts which give
it power and might. When it was once
proved that the poison which rrcduccd
septic peritonitis came from the break
ing down or decay of the appendix.
the very root of one of mans worst
physical foes was laid bare Further
practice established beyond doubt that
i'll large majority of cases the appcn-
dix could be removed by Il simple sur
gical operation and the patient restored
to vigorous health, if the disease was
discovered i'll time and correctly dag
nosed.
The surgeons now regard the opera
ton itself as one of the most simple,
but to obtain the best results it should
take place within few hours after the
patient begins to suffer from the disease
In fact, the sooner the operation is had
the better are the chances of recovery,
while if the knife is not resorted to
death is sure to ensue very promptly or
after lingering miseries from the deadly
poison perambulating through the sys-
tenn and coming to the surface in alb
sceSses.
The symptoms are so plain and I'M
mistakablc to the surgeon of today that
any sufferer may know them for himsclf:
First.-The attack is always sudden
1t comes on when the person is appar-
entity i'll the best of health and without
the slightest warning.
Second. A sharp pain is felt i'll the
,A(-. <@G4 Al IL
ways the case, whether the appendix be
i'll its correct place on the right side or
displaced TO the left
Third "A sore and tender spot, very
painful to the touch. is located exactly
where the incision must be made 10 find
the appendix.
These are the three plain symptoms
which have been found in thousands of
cases with scarcely "a variation.
Thus it is that many sudden deaths
occur to persons i'll robust health. They
are thought to have collie or vertigo.
when the truth is that miserable and
useless little organ, the appendix, has
met with some kind of an accident and
clogs the whole machine.
Appendicitis usually occurs between
tho ages Of 10 and 80 years. 1t is ex-
tremely rare above or below those ages
1t is much more frequent among males
than females, the proportion in all
countries being 90 per cent females to
so per cent males.
The cause for this difference is of
very recent discovery, and is not even
known generally among the medical
profession. DR.. Clado, French surgeon
and investigator, sought an explanation
of the comparative immunity Of the fe-