Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-05-08

the boston CITY, John Hopkins and
Rhode Island hospitals there were
Sc cases In which acute inflamatory
disease of the vermiform appendix
caused death. directly or indirectly.
About &c per cent were males About
as per cent OF the deaths occurred
in the second and third decades OF
life.
In some of the cases the symp-
toms of appendicitis were not dis
covered until after death. The larger
percentage of cases among men and
boys is explained plausibly as being
due to the greater liability to ex-
posture, to Injury and the greater ten
dency to errors In diet. and I'm part
perhaps. to the excessive use of to-
bacco and the consequent digestive
disturbances.
The explanation given for the re-
lative exemption OF negroes is that
their diet is simple they take a great
deal OF outdoor exercise. and they
are free from digestive disturban-
ces." says Kelly In the Johns Hop
kins Hospital, whore one negro is adj
mitted for every four white men only
one negro Is operated on for appen-
dicitis To IL white men
Lennander has called appendicitis
a family disease. and many other
physicians have been struck by the
occurrence of the disease I'm members
OF the same family. one has report D.
cd three cases in three successive
generations OF family A father.
two sons and two daughters were
affected in another family
Disorders of digestion have the
most important influence i'm determ-
lining an acute attack of of appendi-
citis." says Kelly.
The size OF the appendix varies
according to the age and To per-
sons. Its length averages from three
to three and half inches The an
pendiX OF the man is slightly larger
than that OF the woman.
The growth is irregular and un-
certain. There is rccod of one an
pendix more than foot long. BE
tween the ages OF 10 and 30 it
reaches its largest size. though some
observers make the period from 20 to
40. II usually decreases I'm size as a
person grows old, but in some cases
It has been found full-slzed I'm the
aged
The width OF the appendix varies
much less than the length. the com
mon width being that of goose
quill But there are abnormaIitics
In width, as I'm length II points i'm
different directions AT different times
and chart OF its various positions
Is figure shaped approximately like
a daddy long legs" spider
In some places, the hospital of the
Johns Hopkins Medical School. for
instance. IL Is the custom To examine
he appendix whenever the abdomen
Is opened, unless the condition of
ID" patient Is such that the ispcction
would be an added danger. OF 20
surgeons who were canyasscd by KEEL
ly on the question: when the alb
domen Is opened for other causes ana
the perfect normgl appendix is cast
ly accessible is il your rule to ro-
move it?' Forty-four replied aeainsf
and the rest i'm favor of doing so.
Tho result of "A canvass anon.
many physicians as TO whether tbc
appendix. while still In normal con
dition, should be removed ass urc.
tentative measure. was the almost
unanimous conclusion that such a
step Is absurd" "unjustinablc" or
without excuse.
II appendicitis should become moro
frequent than It is now the question
may well be raised again. The nero
entertainment Of the suggestion of
the removal as a prophylaclic meas
ure may possibly be taken as cvi-
dence. among other things. of the
immense strides which the attitude
toward the disease ana the know
ledge of IT have taken i'm the last
hundred years