Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-26
ToNslLs AND ADENoIDs


better results than the medical inspec-
tion of school children. 1t must, how
ever, be clearly understood that the
value of inspection is wholly dependent
upon the knowledge and judgment of
the inspector. If this important work
Is entrusted to one who is not skillful
In making his diagnosis or to one whose
Judgment In regard to the outcome of
conditions is not sound the result may
be as disastrous. to the child as they
are likely to be beneficial If the in
spector is all that he should be.
A part of the proper inspection of the
child is for the purpose of determining
whether or not he is a menace to
others. That is, If the child is suffering
from any communicable disease al
though his presence In school might not
seriously effect his own health he
should be vigorously excluded because
of the danger of his communicating the
disease to others. For instance, child
suffering from ringworm or from itch
is probably just as well off in school as
he would be at home, so far as he per-
sonally is concerned, but he should be
excluded because these diseases are
readily communicated to children with
whom he is associated. On the other
hand there are certain diseases of the
nose and throat which are not likely to
be communicated to others but which
are of great Importance to the child
himself.
The pharynx is one of the extremely
important organs of the body. Measured
by the spinal column 1t extends in
front of that structure from the base of
the skull to about the fifth cervlcal
vertebra. For the ebnefit of the un-
technical reader 1 will say that the
term "cervicar' Is applied to the ver-
zebra in the neck. Viewed from the
hn nh a ha Qaid IN he
back of the nose, back of the mouth
and back of the extreme upper portion
of the trachea, or windpipe. This por-
tion of the trachea is known to the
anatomist as the larynx. For con-
venience of description the pharynx is
often divided into three parts. The up
per part Is known as the naso-pharynx,
or the part most intimately connected
with the nose; the middle part is known
as the oro-pharynx, or the part most
intimately connected with the mouth,
and the lower part is known as tie
laryngo pharynx, or the part most In
timately related to the upper part OF
the trachea.
If one will take the trouble to ex-
anne this cavity by looking into the
mouth of child he will see that all OF
the air which is inhaled, whether
through the nose or through the mouth,
as well as all of the air and matter
RcueTdiiy 0Aldleu lIOHl IIlS AuH6SB hu0h
pass through this cavity. We know
that the air is rich in bacteria and that
consequently large numbers of bacteria
must constantly be brought into the
pharynx. If Mother Nature had not
given some special protection to this
region constant infection would almost
necessarily occur AS a means of pro-
lection this region Is almost completely
lined Immediately under the mucous
membrane which really forms the skin
of this region by a peculiar tissue
known as lymphoid tissue. Lymphoid
tissue consists of network of f1bers
with the interstices between the fibers
filled with peculiar cells closely resem-
bling the white corpuscles of the blood.
AS a matter of fact there are several
different kinds of cells found in this
lymphoid tissue. Suffice 1t to say to
the untechnical that many of the cells
found in this tissue are capable OF de-
vouring and destroying bacteria and
that the protection of this region is
largely based upon the capacity of the
cells for work of this kind.
Under normal conditions the lymphoid
tissue does its work during the entire
life of the individual without hav-
ing any personal consciousness of its
presence but If for any reason the cir
culation through this part of the body
is seriously impeded the lymphoid tis-
sue may either grow to too great an
extent or it may be greatly diminished
in quantity. When lymphoid tissue be-
comes overgrown, and especially If this
excessive growth occurs in or near the
nasal passages, the overgrowth is
spoken of as adenoids and these ade-