The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-06-12
Appendicitis and Meat.

~
Paris physician, recently read paper
before the French Academy of Medi.
cine, which is the subject Of somt
discussion. After defining appended
tis and giving his views about the pre-.
valence Of the disease, DR.. Champion
mere remarks that it is practically an
evolution Of the last twenty years,
notwithstanding the fact that many
physicians contend that it has existed
from time immemorial and that medi-
cal science had not 80 advanced as to
recognize it and prescribe the proper
treatment. His own conclusion is.
substantially, that, while it is not &C
tually new disease, as the appendix
has always existed and been suscepti-
bic to divers affections, cit is SO in
creased in frequency aud viruiency
that the physician il forced to accept
the proposition that he is dealing with
problem that never Or rarely troubled
his predecessors" and that he ;s,
therefore, to all intents and purposes
combating new foe to health and
life.
In looking for the cause of the dis
ease, DR.. Championncre associates ap-
pendicitis, grip and meat eating. If
it is new disease, or an old one that
has become more prevalent, there
must be some general explanation Of
its recent spread; which is found in
the changed conditions of living. In
the old days, it is argued, the farmer
and the artisan lived natural lives,
eating fruit and vegetables mainly,
and meat was relatively unimportant
part Of their diet. Now meat is the
great food staple. Children are given
eat when their diet should be purely
lacteal, and l have heard even men
boast that they never under any cir
oumstances ate vegetables, fruit or
bread. Regarding the appendix there
are certain conditions which must be
considered.
II think l may safely say that it is
more susceptible to disease than any
organ in the body. With its lymp-
hold glands and closed duets it posses
es considerable lymphatic network,
peculiarly predisposed to the absorp-
tion of poisonous matters. Its direct
connection with the intestines makes
the appendix the depository of the
most virnlent infections of the body,
and since the organ has no outlet
these roxics multiply, increase 10
power aud finally work the most vio-
lent consequences.
II have shown that to infect the in
testines is tc affect tho appendix.
Now, to go further, incontestible re-
cords prove that every epidemic multi
plies intestinal infections; and that
particularly has this been found true
Of influenza.
"The change in our food, the shift
ing from vegetable to animal foods.
mas worked structural changes in the
intestines and made then more liable
to disease. Animal food contains to
much greater degree properties in
imical to health, and the consumption
of meat is increasing daily.
II have never seen nor heard of a
vegetarian being q victim of appen-
dicitis. In countries where vegeta-
able regime still obtains appedici.is ie
practically unknown, and finally in
the two countries where meat eating
has its greatest vogue-England and
the United States-there are more
cases Of appendicitis than in the rest
{ the entire world put together.
"Do not these facts point their OBJ
vious moral?"
After every epidemic Of grip, it is
noted, there is always an outbreak Of
hundreds Of more or less severe cases
of appendicitis. and this observation
has been confirmed, we believe, by
that of many other physicians, but we
need not discuss that phase of the hy-
pothesis. People cannot we'll avoid
grip or infueuza when it is about; but
they can avoid meat, or greatly mod
crate their indulgence in such diet
The important question appears to be
whether there is good ground for tae
assertion that t-eatiug ard appen-
dioitis are closely associated, so that
where meat-eating is prevalent the
disease is prevalent, and where veg
etarianism is practiced the disease is
comparatively unknown. DR.. Cham
pionnere notes that in English speak
ing countries, where meat. eating has
its greatest vogue, there are more