New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-02
APPENDICITIS.
HintssOn Hoo to AUoid This Dread


Inc recent Huxley lecture delivered-by Sir WIN
IAN AlaeeWen has once again raised the o.. -ecur-
ring question painful 70 the public. - y ia
appendicitis common at the present time saws
The National Review This affection snarez
nexther age nor sex. and II IS equally dreaded IN
palace and cottage The King has been among its
victims. nor has it neglected the ptiabIe vagrant
on the Embankment- An infant OF seven weeks
has recently succumbed to the banefuI inhamma-
tory process. while medical baronet long past
the allotted span OF threescOre years and ten has
happily fought successful fight against appen-
dicitis- The idle girl. without definite employment
succumbs. as also does the soldier on active SER
vice. The schoObOy is particularly prone and the
affection does not ignore the high dignitary OF the
church Can it be that the small blind tube placed
within the abdomen has suddenly become vuIner-
able to assault or is II that there is some peculiarly
potent force now at work which did not formerly
eXist2 II is not TO be denied that more accurate
diagnosis has led to an apparent increase in the
number Of cases OF the complaint Peritonitfs or
Inflammation Of the lining membrane OF the abdo-
men. has always been common and a dreaded
malay. but the precise cause Of the Inflammation
has frequently been entirely overlooked in the
past. and to-day II Is the opinion OF most medical
practitioners that considerably more than one-haIf
Of the cases Of peritOntis primarily attributable
TO an Inflammation Of the vermif6rm appendix III
Is such an everyday occurrence that We almost
wonder not why closest friend has been struck
down. but when our turn may come.
IT may not be. therefore. altogether without IN
terest to review Of the known causes OF an
/
though this is strictly professional subject yet to
be fOrewarned is to be forearmed. and this must
be the excuse for discussing it. Some people would
still seem TO cherish the idea that fruit stones and
pips Of all Sizes from the cherry stone to the small
apple Dip. are liable to enter the cavity OF the
appendix and there cause dire havoc. As regards
the cherry stone this is pure fiction and the sooner
1t Is disposed Of the better When the reader real
I ICES that the entrance OF the tube. which has a
/ larger diameter than any other part will hardly
\ admit IN the normal state the top of an uncut
cedar pencil, it will readily be seen that even a
/ moderate sized cherry stone would have some DIFF
hcuity IN passing in. That smaller foreign bodies
may gain access to the interior OF the tube IS Ul
4 doubtedly true. but the number OF instances in
i which such have actually been discovered within
| the diseased appendix is comparatively small A
single duck shot. email fragment Of solder from
| a canned meat TIN bristle from a toothbrush a
and ordinary pin have ali been known 10 and
| Iner way into the interior Of the appendix. and
EUl.St mere such bodies may undoubtedly induce
inflammation in the manner subsequently, described
! traneous matters Of ne cbaracfer ~ 49, 80
| uoned , may play some part in the incidence Of
TOE r the h frequency , Of the affection
| ne human body IS constantly harboring micro
organisms which are ever ready TO attack the
! tissues. and are especially capable of doing 50
tissue with which they are in contact has suffered
ere constantly taken N Win FOOD, and more
| particularly SO IN towns Being thus perpetualy
able TO attack any undefended point. There is
pSII noInlng which so tends 70 assist their
hurried and irregular meals Involving, the reten-
these microscopcal organisms viii crowd into hat
may oe called the backWater OF the appendix. here
which, acting upon the walls of the tube. soon
and all the train of symptoms incident 10 appeudi-
eltis lake a DAY N the lie OF the ordinary city
hnds 1t necessary TO hurry his breakfast perhaps
to catch the train which vii enable him 10 keen
A. lipot1hI 9 ne Is busy tnrouShout
Ihe morning. ana mus that TO get through his
work and enable him 10 leave his office at re-
be a scramble. though he is unwilling 10
foregO his usual fun complement OF diverse
enjoy any healthy exercise, and third meal t. e.
Seted meas he B sIFa ts4 Win 9 ny d a.
suit that the inevitable evil consequences follow
while but before long he viii feel he necessity for
virR tsueR round s of so or Boss6y s s pa o
hare sets at lawn tennis or maybe even a day .
'.aThe moral is to eat ones meals de7i6era-eIz-
leavrs, time for the commencement of the process
OF Digestion before imposing undue strain or the
aculties by any Intellectual effort such as smart
daita1ta Who has ar7ered 81 her frr -vj.
room. Her subsequent season has been a fun one.
mind has been iractive. She has eaten rich
suit Of indigestion and in due time appendicitis
Lastly turn to the child OF the pG3r e; or afro
actly the same as its parent and how can We
SScteri Forces m viii thus BE- realized that tie
medical profession locks upon the modern life Of
and irregular habits as one OF the principal causes
Of the OF appendicitis and 1t believes that
those who wish to avoid this ailTnent must i've
plainly. take matters more easily and paw
greater attention what nature PrOCiainS
I rational existence. Remember that attack OF
appendicitis is liable be followed by another at
/ an unknown interval and the survivor Of the first
may succumb to the second As has been sug,
gested much can be done 10 avoid the onset or
the attack and possibly. If il has come 20 a
head. care in diet. regularity OF exercise and an
/ intelligent, we'll ordered life may serve 10 post
9One or even prevent second pTOSt-aciOn
The operative treatment OF appendicitis has two
main objects. viz TO relieve the urgent symptoms
during the acute attack and 10 prevent any posi-
biity Of a recurrence OF the mischief. The gravity
OF the operation necessitated during the attack by
/ the urgency OF the symptoms arises, not 50 mQch
the tive measures themselves, but OWNS
/ 10 the pertOnitis which accompanies 9ppendicltls
| Should. however, the acut- Inflammation suns'de.
/ an operation can then be undertaken 70 refnoy -
/ the offending organ. The operative measures ia
/ this Quiescent stage are almost without DEAN
rate the operation. IN fact n sktfuliy performed
being less dangerous 10 life than che retenllon OF
| the tube. which IS liable 70 a rresh incidence
| OF Inflammation. the resIlS OF which cannot os
rrophesied-