Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-07-27
4 SMALL BLIND TUBE
ne vsnnItorm Appendix and Its
Probable Function.


Appendicitis Is not disease Of mod
ern times. though ifs nature and meth.
DDS Of treatment are the result oi
careful observation by one Of our well
known modern surgeons while engaged
| IN pcstmortem work
II may be safe 70 say that append
Gifts IL as old as mankind. for In
studying very old histories wherein
are given the diagnoses Of the physi'
clans We read OF cases Of innalnma.
ton Of the bowels. intestinal disorders
and like ailments the symptoms Of
which prove that they must have been
appendicitis.
| Appendicitis Is Inflammation OF the
vcrmiform appendix. small blind
tube. averaging two aud half inches
IN length and quarter q an inch In
diameter. attached 10 the coecum NJ
It's inner and posterior part. II 4
made of very sensitive mucous mem.
brane containing several glands.
The appendix Is part Of the digestive
tract. its function, II Is believed. being
to Intricate that part OF the intestincs
though as yet there Is no absolute
proof or this. Careful study OF child
from whom the colon has been re.
moved until he reaches the age Of
manhood has revealed no irreguiari'
ties OF any nature.
The causes OF this disease may be
grouped under four heads stenosis'
which means closing up: impactlon'
the entrance Of foreign bodies. not ncr'
essarily seeds: exposure and injury
In lighting this disease nature takes
three methods Of dispossng OF the toxic
materials dischargIng them into the
pcritonenl cavity. sending them into
the bowels and dIscharging them
through an external wound. In the
FIRST. n the discharge be not too rapid
while the pcritoneum h taking them
up, nature again makes an effort 70
ward OF the threatened danger by
walling the poisonous matters In. thus
locallxlng them and so aiding the ply.
sIcian or surgeon In his work. IT.
however. The discharge be sudden. ns
Is the case when the mass bursts, th"
whole OF the peritoneum becomes In
VOWED. which Is called septic peritc-
nitis. and this II generally fatal
After the diagnosis has revealed the
disease the doctor decides whether the
ease be one for medicine or external
treatment or for separation In the
latter case the greatest Of care Is de-
handed. as sometimes an immediate
operation Is necessary. while nj othe'
times II must he delayed. often for
hours. until he condition OF the pa.
tlent has been brought TO that point aI
which the surgeon can feel II Is safe r.
20 ahead.
The operation determined upon, the
most careful arrangements 10 secure
perfect antisepsis are made. and the
patient IL placed in a full state Of an
aesthcsla.
The operating surgeon then draws
an Imaginary line from the navel g.
the anterior superior spine OF the rigl
hip bone. dividing that line into thres
parts. Under the inner side Of the
middle third the appendix In norma
cases will G found. though In rare
cases II has been found on the left side
and In extremely rare cases otherwise
displaced.
Having satisfied himself Of the exact
spot under which II will be found. an
incision from two 10 Ave inches long
IL made In the skin. tSome 81 the best
surgeons pride themselves on tfa
smallness Of their incisions In this op
crationJ 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 perltoncum
This Is a Serious secretive lining com
posed OF two layers. On cutting
through this the edges OF both layer
are clamped so az TO enable the sur.
geon 10 reunite them when the opera
lion shall have been completed.
The intcstines are now visible. and
the affected section Is very tcndefly
drawn through the opening. where the
nature and extent Of the Infection are
made known. Hot towels moistcned
with salt water are kept applied TO the
Intestine while II Is exposed. The
word 'tenderly" characterizes the
whole OF this operation. rs the surgeon
must be more than carefrl 30 prevent
any rupture OF the appendix. for should
this happen while he Is operating the
pus would he quickly taken NJ by tho
peritoneum aud other mucous mem.
branes. and the resulting complications
would make the outcome very nncer
tain.
The mcseptery, a large vessel adjoin-
Ing the appendix. Is next lIgated. and
then the colon Is tied OF. after which
the diseased organ is cut away. The
stump Is pushed back Into the mites.
tine and the ligaturc Is tightly drawn,
this TO prevent the forming Of pouch.
The removal safely accomplished.
the intestine Is replaced, the edges OF
the periicneum are carefully approx
mated and the muscular walls, fatty
tissue and skin are brought togethc
by subcutnneous and cutancous su.
lures.
In the majority OF cases, no com,
plications ensuing. the patient is ready
for discharge In two weeks.-James n