Evening star., 1913-02-09
PREVENTIVE SURGERY


due to neglected appendicitis. Any case
of dyspepsia which cannot be cured by
proper diet and medical or psychological
trea tment in six months should receive
surgical attention.
Gall stones and gastric ulcer are pre-
vented by removing the diseased appen-
dix. Many cases of ulcer of the stomach,
abscess of the liver and pancreatic dis
ease are likewise prevented OF every loo
cases of appendicitis operated on. at least
forty-fOur cases of gall stones, eighty
hve cases of so-called dyspepsia and ten
cases of ulcer of the stomach are pre-
vented. So that an acute attack or ap-
pendicltiS, if operated on, is a blessing
In disguise, because it prevents the pa
tient from falling victim to these more
terrible diseases
Gall stones" is a disease compara-
lively well known to the public. In
reality there is no such disease. What is
commonly called gall stones is REALLY
Inflammation of the bile tract. Every
such case can be cured by comparative
~ simple. safe and easy operation, and II
TINS were done gall stones" would disap-
pear from among present day disorders.
Not only may gall stones be prevent
ed, but diseases resulting from them may
be avoided. Among these are diseases or
the pancreaS, cancer and certain cases of
diabetes. Also there are cases in which
the gall badders Of healthy persons are
filled with typhoid germs. Removal of
the organ prevents any further danger
tTuIi INeiIl dS IEpnOlu carriers. Nearly
half the cases of typhoid become car
rIers. and F'romme believes many such
people might consent to the removal Of
the gall bladder if convinced of the dan
ger to their families and their neigh
bOrs. Finally many cases of arthritis
and pneumonia result from abdominal
causes, and could be prevented by proper
surgical treatment of the primary condi-
tiOns.
The Pelvis.-We hear much about con-
servation Of the race. This can be in
sured only by keeping the birthrate up
to the death rate. Preventive surgery
can assist greatly in this important work
In the treatment of diseases peculiar to
women. Not only is the possibility of
motherhood increased, but the lives of
many mothers are saved, and many
others are spared from chronic invalid
ism. Here We refer especially to tumors.
One author has studied 1915 cases Of
tumors. which We're complicated, in which
there We're 34j deaths. and in which early
removal of the tumor certainly would
have prevented the complication in $50
cases. 1t is for the treatment that pre-
vents such complications that we plead.
In many things in life it is the little
things that count. To great extent
this is true of preventive surgery. Think
of the preventabie death. preventable
surgery and preventable invalidism
caused by and followir- so-called
minor" female affections.
Preventable surgery makes an earnest
plea for the correction of the disorders
that make these things possible. Once
they are developed their cure is at best
but forlorn hope. But they can be
prevented, and easily prevented
By paying attention to these things, no
less an evil than suicide may be great
fy reduced. Bossi reports number of
cases of women who had made repeated
attempts at suicide. some of whom had
been confined in asylums for long
period on this account. who were COM
pletely cured of their mental and ply
sical disease by operation.