The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-04
MEDICAL NOTES.
prepared for the Sunday Journal by
an Old Practitioner

an Old PractitfOner.)
The tonsils are now exciting almost as
much discussion as the appendix vermifor-
mis-, that insignificant and apparently USE
less thing which causes much dreaded APP
pendicitis. There is every reason to believe
that the tonsils are wide open portals for
the entrance of various infectious diseases
into the system. Their situation, their ir-
regular surface and their spongy texture
all favor infection The frequent occur
renee of tonsilitis, or quinsy. as it is popu-
larly called, proves their own susceptible
ity to disease. Physicians generally ac-
cept the possibility and probability that
rheumatism may occur through disease of
the tonsils, and lately it has been main
tanned that a form of heart disease, en-
dorarditis, may also arise in this way.
While this may be difficult to prove 1t
should lead to greater attention to posi-
bic source of danger, and all diseases OF
the tonsls should be vigorously treated and
all measures be used to prevent infection.
Speaking of appendicitis, those who be-
lieve in progressive evolution and perfec-
ton Of the human body claim that at some
time in their near future a race of men
organ having been removed from the pa
rents. In the same way, as the removal of
the tonsils is surgical procedure which
has long been resorted to. there may be
a race of men without tonsils.
In all cities where there are competitive
examinations for positions in public hos
pitals there is good amount of jealousy
and the cry of favoritism is often raised
when some fortunate applicant receives
a coveted position. The number applying
is very large. In Paris, for example. there
were recently $50 candidates for thirty
vacancies. After the papers had been ex-
amined they were placed at the hospital
Beaujon in locked and sealed boxes. One
morning 1T was discovered that during the
night a panel had been removed in the
door and unknown persons had entered
With thermocautery, an instrument used
in surgery, hole had been burned through
each box and nitric acid poured in. thus
reducing the papers to pulp. On account Of
this deed, which must have been perpe-
trated by medical students, the competition
was rendered void and another examina-
ton has become necessary. The probable
cause for this outrage was current rumor
that the competitions were unfairly con-
Quoted and that favoritism had been
shown.
Apropos of vegeterian1sm. with strict
exclusion of meat diet, 1T is interesting to
note that the Hindoos, who are largely
vegetarian, have been and are the chief
sufferers from the plague. doubtless owing
to a diminished power of resistance as
well as their unsanitary surroundings.
Owing to their superstitious and excessive
reverence for animal life the necessary
measures to prevent the spread of the
plague have been resisted, and infected or
infection carrying vermin were protected
by them in every possible way. An
official report says all attempts to capture
the rats We're fiercely opposed, and pick
ing up few sick pigeons almost caused
a riot 1t is safe to say that if these pref
rdices had not existed the plague would
have been more easily controlled and prob
ably checked in it's very inception.
The attempt to ostracise and isolate the
consumptive has extended to school teach
ers A movement has been made to remove
from the public schools every teacher who
is affected with tuberculosis, and it is fur
Their proposed to exclude all infectious chill
dren. This would, of course, lead to the
establishment of special schools, attended
by consumptive pupils and taught by con-
sumptive teachers. While it is difficult to
say whether such a movement is founded
on rational grounds there is no question
ic nj 0f
and locally where such radical sanitary
measures have been suggested they have
met with almost universal Endorsement
from the profession, who believe these pre-
cautions to be in accord with the most re-
cent theories and doctrines of the contag
iousness of consumption.
A study of the growth of the finger nails
has recently been conducted by Dufour. of
Paris. For nail to reach its full length.
an average of seven-twelfths of an inch,
from 121 to 13S days are necessary. Beau,
however, says that they grow about one
thirty-second of an inch week, which
would require but los days. Another OBJ
server tells of a man twenty-one years
of age in whom it took 126 days; a man
OF thirty-one years in 159 days, and
another of thirty-two years in IS days. AT
fifty-six years it took no; at sixty-seven
years 1t took IA. The most rapid growth
was noticed In a consumptive who was spit
ting blood. Salt air hastens the growth
rapidly and grief stops the growth almost
wholly. In palsy the nails cease growing, a
valuable sign in differentiating 1t from
hysteria. The experiment of growth can
be roughly tried by any one filing very
shallow horizontal notch across the base
OF the nail.
cred the essence or elixir of long life.
From experiments which he has conducted
and directed upon animals he has increased
the number of blood corpuscles in that
animal form 100000 TO 100000 in a cubic
milimeter Upon this as basis Metchni-
koff believes that there is hope OF finding
some means of checking the natural decay
Of old age, and in fact all changes due TO
old age, since this one result has started
researches for specific serum to prevent
decay and invigorate all organs. such an
one already having been discovered for the
kidneys.
Dentists as a rule are not favored with
remarkably large fees. but in the case of
a recently deceased millionaire the dentist
had very profitable patient. The bill
amounted to a total OF sl.400. The charge
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