The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-06-27
SAY APPENDICITIS
IS NOT CONTAGIOUS
Prof. Metchnikoff and DR.. Doyen OPP
pose Theory of DR.. Hood
Microbe Not Identified.

PARIS. June 24-The assertion by
DR.. Donald Hood. the well-known
English surgeon, that appendicitis
may be acquired by contagion or by
the transmission of germs from one
person 10 another. which was publish
cd In The Lancet. has excited intense
interest among French practitioners
and baeteriologists
DR.. Ellie Metchnikof. the head OF
the meteorological Department of the
Pasteur Institution, talked very read
lily to the writer on the subject. He
was at the moment OF the correspond
ents call engaged in examining the
culture OF some intestinal microbes
which one of his assistants had Just
brought to a perfect state. and the
conversation was held between peeps
through the microscope.
1T Is fully established" said Prof
Metchnikoff, that appendicitis Is due
70 microbes. although unfortunately
We have not yet been able to identify
them among the many hundreds OF
various kinds OF minute parasites
which inhabit the human intestines. II
10 likely that we shall arrive some
day at Its Identification.
MY special work at present, as you
know. Is the study OF the inhabitants
OF the intestinal tract Appendicitis
develops fever. and fever is traceable
to microbes. Besides, diseased appen-
dices are found to be full OF them.
That Is one thing. but IL Is quite an
other TO say that these microbes
travei from one distinct organism to
another. Until obtain further light
which may alter my opinion | am In
clined to doubt DR.. Hoods theory.
Il do not know that I could even
consider IL proable. The occurrence OF
many cases OF appendicitis in one fam
lily, or even among persons living
merely in social intimacy. can be ex-
planned upon quite a different prin-
ciple. II Is presumably due to the
fact that these persons have largely
eaten the same kinds OF food The
germs OF appendicitis often exist in
uncooked food. particularly salads.
II do not deny absolutely that con-
tagion is possible. but so far as know
the proofs of 1t are entirely lacking"
DR.. Louis Doyen, the best-kown sur
geon in France. wrote the following.
THE experiments which have
made for several years past. and those
OF Metchnikoff. which feel have
authority to cite, since part OF them
were made jointly with me, demon
strate that appendicitis Is a polymi-
robian malady IL Is thus impossible
to hold to the theory that It can be
transmitted by contagion from one
subject to another.
Appendicitis Is only produced when
ha ratrrnhnS nf % tntaafinno
penetrated past the entrance to the
appendix Metchnikoff has shown that
they may be introduced into II by lit
tie worms. such as trycocephaliac,
which have thread-like extremities, en-
abling them to pass through the most
minute orifice.
Experiments In the reproduction OF
appendicitis In the chimpanzee by d.
rect incubation have resulted affirma-
lively only when the microbes were
taken from an exceedingly virulent
case The most virulent case which I
have oserved was caused, apart from
the ordinary microbes OF the intes-
tines, by four rather rare species OF
microbes which exist Independently
Of air These, inoculated beneath the
skin OF a mouse or guinea pig, pro-
duced gangrene. killing the animal in
a very brief space Of time; but the
experiments could not be continued
because in the culture tubes the mi
crobes lost their virulence.
THE only cause OF appendicitis.
then, is the chance penetration OF the
intestinal microbes into the appendix,
and II Is quickly fatal only when these
microbes are specially virulent.
"If more note is made OF appended
tbs today than formerly 1t Is simply
because formerly light cases OF ap-
pendicitis were not diagnosed and OBJ
servation was made only OF cases In
which voluminous assesses were
formed In the lilac region.
"As to mortality, 1t is not true that
it has increased. No patient sue
cumbs to appendicitis nowadays II he
IL operated upon in time by an ex-
perienced surgeon"