Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-04-01

be more fully realized when one mas
In mind that the interior Of the appen-
dix is big enough to admit only me-
diminished darning needle, Its great
liability to disease Is due entirely to
Its low order of vital resistance. That
Is, 1t is an organ which appears to have
no actual use in the present machinery
Of man, but in the earlier stages OF
mans development it Is believed to
have been large pouch that played
an important part in the digestive oper-
atoms Of the human system. BY ages
of disuse it has gradually shrunk to
its present dimensions, and is known
to science as a vestigial organ, one
which is only remnant of its former
self, and possessing but vestige of its
original functions.
This becomes more clear If some 9th
er parts of the body which now seem
to have no use are employed. The ton
sis are in this class, and also the wis
dom teeth, and both are peculiarly sub
ject to disease.
The wisdom teeth decay early in the
average man, and the tonsils are con-
slant source of trouble in some per-
sons. These disorders are due to the
low vital resistance Of the parts. They
are atrophied from dlsuse, and there
fore unable to throw off their enemies,
as do the stomach and lungs, the heart
and the intestines, the blood vessels
and the nerves, which are in constant
and active working order.
The tonsils and the appendix are
composed of what is called limphoid
tissue, which is lowest in the scale OF
material in the body. The tonsils are
30 situated that they can be treated or
removed without serious difficulty. But
the appendix is in one of the most deli
cate and vital parts of the body, in the
peritoneal cavity, usually to the right
of the center of the abdomen.
But in rare instances it has been
found on the left side, and still more
rarely otherwise displaced This dis
covery, made very recently, has caused
the surgeons to be extremely careful to
locate the trouble before using the
knife.
Until a comparatively recent period
the frequent and fatal part played by
the vermiform appendix in peritoneal
disorders, and especially in septic peri
tonitis, had not been understood by
the medical profession. That was the
reason that septic peritonitis was gen.
orally succeeded by the death of the
sufferer soon after the symptoms were
well established
But science never stands still. 1t al
ways pushes its investigations beyond
mere appearances and out of the mys-
teries Of nature develops facts which
give it power and might When it was
once proved that the poison which pro-
duced septic peritonitis came from the
breaking down or decay of the appen-
dix the very root of one of mans worst
physical foes was laid bare. Further
practice established beyond a doubt
that, in large majority of cases, the
appendix could be removed by simple
surgical operation and the patient re-
stored to vigorous health, if the disease
was discovered in time and correctly
diagnosed.
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
ESkient begins to suffer from the dis
esse. In fact, the sooner the operation
is had the better are the chances Of re-
covery, while if the knife is not resort
ed to death surely ensues very prompt
ly, or after lingering miseries from the
deadly poison perambulating through
the system and coming to the surface
in assesses.
The symptoms are so plain and un-
mistakable to the surgeon of today that
any sufferer may know them for him.
self:
l. l. o dIldCh 10 always suuu6n. III
comes on when the person is, apparent
ly, in the best of health, and without
the slightest warning.
"2. A sharp pain is felt in the very
center of the abdomen. This is always
the case, whether the appendix be in
it's correct place on the right side, OF
disnlaced tn the left
"3. A sore and tender spot, very pain.
full to the touch, is located exactly
where the incision must be made to fine
the appendix"
These are the three plain symptoms
which have been found in thousands Of
cases with scarcely variation.
Thus it is that many sudden death!
occur to persons in robust health. They
are thought to have a collie, or a yer.
tigo, 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. Perhap:
it has only become wrapped in the tiny
web that gives it its small blood sup
ply, but this ia sufficient to stitle it; il