The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-07-30
AS TO APPsNpIcl1Is.
some Remarks by n Lending Washington
Specta1tst.


"A dispatch in The Star recently
recording the death of the son of fol-
lower OF the faith healing theory from
appendicitis. calls to mind a point or
two regarding this much discussed
disease which may well be borne in
mind by the public" said a promin-
ent Washington specialist.
THE father of this unfortunate boy
sustained the faith doctor In his meth
ods, and opposed an autopsy. A com
p,isory autopsy was nevertheless held,
and 1t was shown that the lads life
might have been saved by proper
treatment, and that he had died OF
peritonitis induced by appendicities.
The father stated that the neighbors
thought that the boy had typhoid,
and that he thought that the disease
was gastric fever. What the faith
faith healer thought was not given.
THE successive recurrence of these
distressing instances of neglect of
helpless patients will, before many
years have passed, cause such a re-
vulsion of popular sentiment that an
adequate law to reach all concerned
will be written upon the statute
books of every state in the Union. Ex-
posure in the press, local Indignation
and adverse opinion seem to have lit
tie effect in lessening these cases.
Medical opinion Is not entirely in
accord in the treatment for appendi-
citis as regards time and the urgency
of an operation. but out of several
hundred cases which have come under
my personal observation the seed the
ory may be dismissed as one not offer
ing serious alarm. Any particle of
foreign matter as a seed. may obtain
entrance into the appendix and set up
inflammation, but | have never seen
but one instance of what was proved
to be n grape seed, and only one of
what was thought to be raspberry
seed. Cold settling in the parts is a
prolific cause of appendicitis, as Is
habitual constipation, and intestinal
inflammation resulting from the vari-
Gus known causes. Persons who may
be seized with what they may consider
to be cramp or collie which will not re-
send Immediately for medical aid. as
such symptoms may be the forerunner
of appendicitis. For instance, pa
tient came into my Office recently, and
throwing himself upon the couch, stat
ed that he had been suffering for three
days with the stomach ache On the
contrary, he was suffering from a Sc
att IL ,f ait l,a
then in such dangerous condition
that he was hurried to the hospital,
where he subsequently recovered.
The point is not to wait. In the
acute stages of inflammation of the ap-
pendiX proper internal medication,
and especially the immediate applica-
tion of the ice bag over the seat of the
trouble on the right side of the abdo-
men as long as the attending physician
directs. may avert appendicitis in nine
cases out of ten; only milk, clear,
strained broth or beef tea being al
lowed for diet. This is the now rec
ognized treatment at this stage of the
disease. Later, when the pulse and
temperature are very high, and the pa
tient is in a dangerous condition, the
treatment cannot be discussed in few
lines. Hundreds OF cases have been
advanced to this latter stage just
through msconception of the true
character of the disease, and neglect
in Immediately calling in a physician.
Once intestinal inflammation gets
started it goes on the rampage like
prairie fire, and every hour lost is of
the utmose importance in its control.
In the matter of abdominal pains peo-
pie err in taking things for granted
that they are innocuous.
"As to the advisability of an opera
tion, that is a matter of opinion, but
in the event of dangerous gangren-
Gus inflammation, and other danger
Gus complications. 1t is imperative.
Physicians are often blamed for the
loss of a case which the operation
will develop that the condition was
such that the patient was beyond med
ical or surgical aid before the opera
tion was even begun. These in
stances are largely the result of the
patients delay in the initial treatment.
Under the old treatemnt cases of ap-
pendicitis were largely diagnosed as
inflammation of the bowels. The pub
lie should not forget that the first OPP
Grafton for appendicitis was performed
as late as, believe. 1887. 1t is absurd
to suppose that medical science may
master a new condition of disease in a
moment. and it should be borne in
mind that where patients once died
from Inflammation of the bowels they
now live through appendicitis. There
is much needless fear regarding this
disease. too. would much prefer
taking my chances of recovery from
an operation for appendicitis than
from an attack of typhoid, though /
am of that branch of the profession
who does not look with favor upon
the theory of an operation at once un-
der all circumstances. ."-Washington