New-York tribune., 1902-06-27
MEDICAL JOURNALS VIEWS

| LATENESs OF THE OPERATION CAUSES
FEAR AMONG AUTHORITIES.
THE Medical News of June 2S will say In an
editorial the Kings illness:
Twice within the short space of nine months the
entire world has turned its attention to the words
No more striking illustration of the important re-
sponsibilities that the members of our profession
occasions when rulers and monarchs are in
cne is pGivsged G therefore to feeling Of pride
In his calling when in serving Its fqnctions sit iGr
those in high estate some measure OF its dignity
and its value is made manifest .,o .,u,r+ +,,
medical practitioner is at his best. Had King
Edward VII of England been a humble 6ootblacki
have been gracng museum jar in less than
twenty-four hours following the initial symptoms
of disturbance; but being royal parsonage and
his attack coming at a most inopportune moment
own desires. laudable though they We're be
his undong, The personal equation in treatment
sres, whms and convenences are often considei,l
iudgment the difficulties of our london confreres
III this respect can better be imagined than de-
At the present time of writing the outlook for
problem With the Very few facts given out by those
IN control the chances for recovery are happily on
necessarily portend a fatal issue, and when it is
borne IN m1nd that the thiest OF the % word sur
source Of the profession will be laid under tribute
This weeks issue of The New-York Medical
Journal deals extensively with King Edwards
DR.. Alexander II. Ferguson, professor of clinical
surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Chicago telegraphs:
Judging from even the meagre data at hand: - of
tive conditions. I inclined give grave
prognosis If he were beggar instead Of king king
hours of onset of the attack as is our rule In Chi
the disease promptly robbed of it's danger. The un
favorable features of the Kings case are his
stitnton and late operation
The Journal says editorialy:
In the light of our own London dispatches. and
of such other information as appears to us to be
rect diagnosis was made in the Kings
early period possible; and that the opera;
with the utmost skill and prudence.
case may rest assured that their management Of
it with the entire approval of the leading
news from London. we are happy to say. Indicates
fair prospect OF the Kings recovery.
DR. Robert F. Weir. president OF the New-York
Academy OF Medicine. writes:
Is Will kn2T. IN the nPsr 6 pGo Psdn the siT s6eg q
for several past OF diabetes II is this factor
hn5 d lends o a 6e ana has 4n7ry and
may be hoped that res9xeTy wi be h npimPebss h bs
iab5red for so long in the past IN fact. many
II iS Vel known the nresence Of this disease is
apt bring about unexpected complications.
DR. Robert Abbe. surgeon TO St. Lukes Hos
pItal writes Of Sir Frederick Trevess methods in
the
reports correct that he simply opspea 9I" and
and desisted from search for the apptnd@iX @ ms
ness 4 more ardent. enthusiastic. fearless
operator might haye pursued the mater TO tt us
sacrificed his patient Science and the people may
be congratulated that so conservative surgeon
was control.
Dr. John B. Murphy, professor Of surgery in the
Northwestern University Medical School writes of
| tho chances OF recovery:
If 1t is an appendiceal pertyphlltls, opened and
| drained. with no attempt at removal OF the ap- H
| age and mode living. should be 81 per cent
The assumption that the abscess is of appendiceal
origin is the most logical Judging from the fymp mp
toms OF pain and syncope on the hfth or sixth slXIn uiy
preceding the operation. and there was eEtIy fta-
| son for his physicians Withholding Information
| noss OF appendicitis had been made early. 1t IS
probable the operation would have httn perloJi1sd 9
| American medical and surgical profession Is that
the drst twentylfour hours after the onset OF
! symptoms. gives the best results and subjects the
There is a I,naninty OF opinion in the profession
eas 't n is 9 hi TO nredt rom the early symptoms
| what will he the subsequent course Of the disease
most dangerous pathological conditions. Expect
ant or medical treatment is uncertain. inefficient
| and haZa rdous and thousands OF lives have been
| sacrificed by this method OF treatment.
on This basis there should h be no PtrityPhs Of
| be performed before that stage.
| THE Medical Record will say tomorrow. In
| regard to the Kings Illness:
The general medical opinion is to the effect
that ultimate recovery will be assured unless there
| be some unforeseen turn in present symptoms.
| There Is foundation for the rumor that maliE-
| nant disease caused the intestinal trouble. TIE
| latter is designated here as perityphtis-a term
| in general use express the condition known
| appendicitis America.
! The wound is in a healthy and quiescent condi-
| ton and there indications OF septic peri
| tonits. The abscess of large size. and was
| through abdominal walls. The Inflammation is
| reported to have been limited to the site of the
| The reports that the King Is verge of col
! lapse have no possible foundation At no time
The foregoing is from a special dispatch from
| it will say:
| In analyzing the clinical symptoms from the
| time of the review at Aldershot June H. II
seems quite evident that the ament declared itself
| faintness. In view of subsequent events many
| risks taken in allowing the patient To he
moved from one place 10 another during the forma
ton of the adhesions which We're to constitute the
| protecting walls of the forming abscess.
1t is hardly conceivable that the abscess formed
itself within the few hours preceding the operation:
as intimated in the cable dispatch to The Medical
| Record" Certainly as a rule. large assesses Of
evidences of their existence in the shape of reidty
| of everything abdominal muscles, crcumscribed
tumescence, and distinct localized pain pressure
1t all likely that these significant symp-
toms escaped the notice of the distinguished med
preventing their royal patient from taking the risks
Inasmuch as Lord Lister is reported as intima ting
| case. 1T seems probable that the appendix itself
tho hay hal he lar xprri-