The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-17
APPENDICITIS
AMONG CHINESE
PENDICITIS IL the malady OF
the day: 1t Is the most promi-
nent malady in the course Of the


H the day: 1t Is the most promi-
nent malady in the course Of the
discussions Of the learned So
cieties. It's causes must be numerous;
In any case. the theories emitted re-
specting its appearance are manifold.
M. Metchnikoff, in q recent commune
cation to the Paris Academy Of Medicine.
attributed an important part In the de-
velepoment Of appendicitis to intertinal
worms, ascarides and trichocephales, es-
pecially the last named. which. by caus-
ing eronsions Of the intestinal mucous
membrane, create an easy means Of in
lection by the morbid germs contained
In the intestine.
Northern China, Is perhaps. Of all
countries in the world. the one In which
helmonthiasis Is the most widely spread.
and In a recent communication present.
ed to the Academy Of Medicine in reply
to NJ Metchnikoff's communication. M.
Matignon states that appendicitis is very
rare there. even II 1t is noticed at all.
Among the celestials lombricoid para
sites are found among nnety-five to
ninety Eight per cent of the children and
among seventy-five per cent of the
adults. Among Europeans the proper
ton is only twenty-five per cent. In
short, 1t Is very rare to find a Chinese
whose digestive tube is not infested
by these parasites. The ascari lombri-
code Is the commonest form: trichoce-
phales are also met with.
In spite of the great frequency of in
testinal worms. M. Matignon during the
four years that he spent in Northern
China never met with single case Of
appendicitis. either in the French mis-
sions or in the hospital at Nantang.
Nor did he meet any during the same
period among the little International
community Of 120 persons who were un-
der his care. Three times only-in the
case of young Russion girl and two
Lazarist missionaries-did he observe
abdominal pains have distant resem-
blance to appendicular collie. but they
appeared to be due to the presence of
a toenia in the intestinal tube, for they
We're not reproduced after the expul-
sion of the parasite.
The extreme rarity Of appendicitis
not to say it's on-existence-among a
people whose digestive tube Is infested
with worms appeared to NJ. Matignon to
be in conflict with the theory of NJ.
Metchnikoff, which tends to attribute to
lombricoids an important part in the APP
pearance of appendicitis.
He considers himself inclined to favor
the theory of the influence of an excess
sive flesh diet. which has been incrim-
mated by Keen. of Philadelphia, in the
first place. and since by M. Lucas Cham
pionniere of Paris. This hypothesis is
strongly supported by what he has OBJ
served in China.
The diet of the Chinese, in the north.
says NJ Matignon, is not flesh diet but
rather vegetarian. At Pekin and in the
county very little beef is eaten. fowls
and ducks. mutton. and especially pork.
being preferred. Europeans alone eat
beef. Meat is luxury which only the
well-to-do can afford and it's consump-
ton is extremely small. The great ma
jority of the population, who are poor.
mostly consume millet simply boiled in
water; little rice, cabbage. sweet pota-
toes. turnips preserved "a la saumure,"
and a quantity Of garlic. The Chinaman
also eats great deal of maize or wheat
flour of which he makes cakes and buns
and unleavened dough, cooked by steam.
1t is possible that to this is due the
admirable "liberte du ventre" Of the
Chinese-to use NJ. Matignon's express
sion-and the consequent absence of APP
pendicitis. 1t cannot be denied that the
Proceedings observations strongly support
the theory which attributes to the slim
ulating influence of an excessive flesh
diet the frequency of cases of Appendix
citis observed for some years past among
civilized nations.