The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-06-14
A SMALL BLIND TUBE
The vermiform Appendix and Its
Probable Function.
PROBLEM OF APPENDICITIS.

Methods Of Fighting 1.-THE Way
the Operation Of Removal 10 Per-
formed-Disease ~ Old ~ Mankind.
Appendicitis is not disease Of mod
ern times. though it's nature and meth
DDS of treatment are the result Of
careful observation by one Of our well
known modern surgeons while engaged
In postmortem work.
1T may be safe to say that appendi-
citis is as old as mankind, for IN
studying very old histories wherein
are given the diagnoses Of the physi-
clans we read of cases of inflamma-
ton of the bowels, intestinal disorders
and like ailments the symptoms Of
which prove that they must have been
appendicitis.
Appendicitis 10 Inflammation Of the
vermiform appendix, 4 small blind
tube, averaging two and a half inches
In length and quarter of an inch In
diameter, attached to the coecum at
its inner and posterior part. 1t IL
made Of very sensitive mucous men,
brane containing several glands.
The appendix is part OF the digestive
tract. its function. it is believed, being
to lubricate that part Of the intestines,
though as yet there is no absolute
proof Of this Careful study Of child
from whom the colon has been re-
moved until he reaches the age of
manhood has revealed no irregulari-
ties Of any nature.
The causes Of this disease may be
grouped under four heads-stenosis,
which means closing up; impaction,
the entrance Of foreign bodies. not nee
essarily seeds: exposure and injury.
In fighting this disease nature takes
three methods Of disposing Of the toxic
materials discharging them into the
peritoneal cavity, sending them into
the bowels and discharging them
through an external wound. In the
first. If the discharge be not too rapid
while the peritoneum Is taking them
up, nature again makes an effort to
ward OF the threatened danger by
localizing them and 50 aiding the ply
stefan or surgeon In his work. II.
however, the discharge be sudden, a.
Is the case when the mass bursts. the
whole Of the peritoneum becomes in
volved, which is called septic perito-
nitis, and this is generally fatal.
After the diagnosis has revealed the
disease the doctor decides whether the
case be one for medicine or external
treatment or for separation. In the
latter case the greatest Of care IL de-
manded. a. sometimes an immediate
operationsis necessary. while ut other
times 1t must be delayed, often for
hours, until the condition Of the pa
uent has been brought to that point ut
which the surgeon can feel it 10 safe to
90 ahead.
The operation determined upon, the
most careful arrangements to secure
perfect antisepsis are made, and the
patient Is placed In q full state Of an
aesthesia.
The operating surgeon then draws
an imaginary line from the navel to
the anterior superior spine of the right
hip bone. dividing that line into three
parts. Under the inner side Of the
middle third The appendix in normal
cases will BE- found. though In rare
cases It has been found on the left side
and in extremely rare cases otherwise
displaced.
Having satisfied himself Of the exact
spot under which 1t viii be found. an
incisioa from two to I've inches long
u made in the skin. Some Of the best
surgeons pride themselves on the
smallness of their decisions In this op-
eration) The fatty tissues are then
cut through, the small blood vessels
are secured. and then the muscular
walls Of the abdomen are separated,
bringing into view the peritoneum.
This IS Serious secretive lining com
posed Of two layers On cutting
through this The edges Of both layers
are changed 90 N TO enable the sur
geon to reuAite them when the opera
ton shall have been co0pIeted-
The intestines are now visible. and
tho affected section = very tendeeiy
drawn through the opening. whars the
nature and extent sf Ito infection are
made known Hot towels moiS4e1ed
with salt water are kept applied - IL
Intestine while It = exposed The
word -4tenderly' chAracteri1es the
wAels ~ 49, oQeEatfeA - tn surGaoD