The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-08-09
FASHIONABLE APPENDICITIS.
DOCTORS Still Discussing the Best Method
OF Treatment.
New York Tribune.

"a 10 a renewed interest in this sub
l.,,, and in the ever constant discus
En- as to the best method of treating
4. disease, whether, as many eminent
j,,eeons and Others hold, it is wisest
4, adhere to the ''early operation"
L5a,iually advised by DR.. McBurncy,
!, 70 stick TO the Timely operation"
k,t has come into vogue through the
L.istence of the general practitioner.
3)se extraordinary thing concerning it
A IS that science has been unable to
;,eount with any degree Of certainty
i, the yermiform appendix. The
last generally accepted theory now
lens to be that j. is rudimentary
3Omach or intestine, and that in some
3lehistoric time it was an active use
n organ of the body, but that in
3locess of time it BECAME no longer
leful, and from non-use it has dwin-
A,d to it's present proportions. Ger
aiu it is thes Mother Nature never
abrks in vain, and that, while often
u reason for what she does may not
3pear on superficial observation,
:bser examination invariably reveals
kcod reason for all she does.
dDr. Wynkoop, tin speaking Of the
sease yesterday, said:
3"At the present time appendicitis
Ia fashionable disease. You hear Of
hundred cases Of it to-day where
eDty years ago you did not hear, Of
Se, and yet I believe it is not more
evalcnt now than then. The reason.
THAT the disease is recognized nCw,
|9ere formerly it was not. In past
@ses what we now know to be appen-
3itis was known as peritonitis, be-
se peritonitis is one Of the most
Eminent symptoms of appendicitis.
Be relationship between peritonitis
8 appendicitis. and the causation of
latter lying within che former, was
O formerly known. Peritonitis, as
Il lidiopathic disease, is now believed
s3ely to occus. It is almost wholly
34ondary to inflammatory or perfora-
he diseases Of some Of the abdominal
aans, and in the causation Of it the
Apendix vermiformis' stands in the
y front rank.
iThc vermiform appendix is an
Growth from the intestine at the
|9bt Of Junction Of the large and
$ll intestines. 1t varies in length
h three to six inches, and is about
Il thickness of ones little finger.
4sRre is an opening between it and
intestine, but the free end is q
de sac Appendicitis consists of
= Inflammation of this organ. This
Ammatiou may be catarrhal, or
Il Eed by the lodgment Of some for
- body which has passed from the
stine into It and been unable to
pe. Appendicitis, from whatever
ae, has sudden onset. A person
seemingly perfect health within
s}e or four hours may become seri-
y i'll, the chief symptoms being
in the right side, of the abdomen,
down, accompanied by fever, and
Rn by vomiting. Some cases run
|d course, and are fatal within
hty-four or thirty-six hours. Some
for several weeks. A smoll pro-
zion of the cases tend to recovery
bout surgical assistance, but by
|@she largest portion without such
Stance are fatal. In those eases
@h, without operative interference,
liver, there is Q tendency to relapse,
third or fourth occurrence
faring at intervals Of from two or
e months to two or three years.
rule, those cases which tend to
3ral recovery ere easily recognized
gus, aDain such cases, naturally,
peratiye interference is advised or
ticed at the time. The tendency
Rlapse, which is now recognized,
Sed to the belief among the best
fons that in q period between re-
Efs, when the patient is in thor
S ly good health, the safest course
Ga remove the appendix. In those
Re cases which do not tend to-
ral recovery, operationis not only
pest, butit is the only safe course
ursue. Operation will not save
1 one Of these severe cases, but
y save the most Of then,, and.
' cases which prove fatal with
alton will be equally SO without
5M9 IS Max Myer, the microssopist Of
Poard Of health q, said Ss
symptoms oa appendicitis are gem
R a peculiarly piercing pain on
s ight side of the abdonien, toward