Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-26

child becomes a mouth breather, and
this, for many reasons which space for
bids me to discuss, is extremely detri-
mental to the child, both mentally and
physically.
If it is true, as there seems to be
good reason to believe 1t is, that the
growth of adenoids is brought about
by abnormal circulation, it is evident
that the best way to deal with them is
to prevent the formation. In other
words, the child should from early in
fancy be carefully examined from time
to time, and If there is reason to sus-
pect that his physical structure is such
as to interfere with his circulation he
should receive immediate attention.
The old proverb is here eminently fit
ting that an ounce of prevention Is
worth a pound of cure. 1t adenoids
have already developed it may often
happen that improvement In the blood
drainage of the region may lead to the
diminution of the growths or possibly
to their complete absorption. When
they can be removed in this way 1t Is
undoubtedly very much better than to
have them removed surgically, but II
they cannot be removed by improving
physiological conditions surgery may
be used as the last resort. When they
are removed by the surgeon the fact
should be recognized that there is still
ing a normal circulation through that
part of the body, otherwise there is
serious danger that the adjoining
lymphoid tissue will increase in size
and adenoids will again develop.
On each side of the throat, in the
oral portion of the pharynx, are i'm
portant lymphoid organs known as tom
sils. These are situated in close prox-
unity to the upper end of the larynx
L.. av,k1
ceiving an excretion from the lungs.
All of the tubes leading to the lungs
are lined with what is known as
ciliated epithelium. The ella on the
cells lining the air passages resemble
short, delicate hairs having a constant
wave-like motion, the motion being
such as to bring the mucus which is
secreted by the cells lining to air pass
ages to the throat, and this Is dis
charged, as before stated, in a region
near the tonsils. From this region
it is from time to time swallowed to
the stomach.
One will readily see that any bacteria
which pass through the pharynx and
enter the air passages of the lungs
are thus likely to be brought back
and poured into the pharyngeal re-
gion. If the tonsils are in a normal
condition the cells in the tonsil readily
destroy these bacteria If, however,
the bacteria are too numerous for the
cells in the tonsils to destroy, then the
tonsils themselves sometimes become
infected and are greatly increased in
size When this condition arises If the
physician is not a psychologist and
bacteriologist he Is in serious danger
of advising the removal of the tonsils.
1t is, of course possible that the tom
sils may get in such condition that
their removal becomes absolutely
necessary, just as it sometimes hap
pens that the eye gets in such condi-
tion that its removal is necessary, or
that any other part of the body may
require amputation in order that life
may be saved, but just as one would
use every endeavor to preserve his eye
or his hand from amputation, so
should he use every endeavor to save
his tonsils, and certainly in all early
stages of enlarged tonsils they may be
saved by paying close attention to i'm
proving the circulation of the blood
through them.
To sum up this whole matter, let me
say that good circulation through the
entire pharyngeal region is necessary
for it's healthy condition; that If for
any reason the circulation is impaired
disease may result. Under such con-
ditions the rational treatment is first
of all to see what can be done by re-
storing proper circulation to these
parts, and if this fails to relieve the
condition. then as last resort seek
the services of the surgeon, but re-
member that in removing the tonsil we
are removing organs of the first inn
portance to the throat, and that after
their removal infection by all kinds of