The Washington times., 1914-06-27

they have the malady without really
nothing more than a desire to be in the
Appendicitis a Germ Disease.
AZ every one knows, appendicitis is an
Inflammation Of the queer little sac
called the vermiform appendix. This
sac, which is about the size and shape
OF gloved finger, has no apparent Use,
and most anatomists agree that It is
nothing but surviving sturnp or root
OF some forgotten part that man at
some early period of his development
found useful. 1t makes OF from a part
OF the intestines and lies on the right
side.
So long as II remains empty and
healthy il is unobtrusive and harmless
But so soon as 1t fills up with poisons,
germs, grape seeds and other things of
that sort, and begins to swell and fes-
ter. II becomes a source of danger and
q possible cause Of death.
Appendicitis is a germ disease. But.
unlike diphtheria, typhoid fever, and
measles. it has no specific germ OF its
own Almost any malignant microbe, in
fact, may cause 1t. When 4 man has
rheumatic fever, for example, some of
the stray germs of that disease may
wander into his appendix, set up an in
fammation and kill him. Again, the
same thing may be done by the germs
duenza- The last named disease has
been shown to be a precursor of appen-
dicitis, and there is good reason to
believe, as has been stated, that the
recent epidenics of Influenza have
caused the parallel epidemics Of trouble
IN the vermiform appendix.
Often the disturbance these invading
germs cause is very slight. Even when
the number Of germs in the appendix is
enormous, and the resultant inflamma-
ton ard suppuration have gone very
far. the germ killing leucocytes of the
blood keep up a terrific battle with the
Invaders. In an otherwise healthy man
this battle is apt to be successful, but
cocytes may lose, and that the germs
will spread from the appendix to the
abdominal cavity in general, and,
thereby. cause death by peritonitis.
Therefore. II is the custom of physi-
clans. as soon as they are sure that a
patient has appendicitis, TO hand him
over TO q surgeon TO have the germ
ridden appendix cut out. When II is
cut out the germs in II go with it. and
II the wound heals properly, as II does
in the vast majority of cases, the pa
tient recovers. This fact explains the
general tendency TO operate in appendi-
citis
II is always possible that the patient
II the latter is performed in time ris
chances are tnnumerably increased. II
we put his risk of dying from the dis
ease itself at 100 we may put hts chance
OF dying from the operation at five.
It is thus plain that, in the long run.
Il Is wisest to operate.
The Ordinary Symptoms.
The symptoms of appendicitis are
pretty well known to every one. The
disease usually makes itself manifest |
quite suddenly. and the first sign is !
commonly a severe and sharp pain in |
the abdomen. somewhere to the right |
Of the center line A moderate fever ac- |
accompanies this and other slight symp- !
ems, such as coated tongue, loss of ap- |
petite and vomiting follow. The
of the abdomen are drawn !
.aut- and the pressure of the appen-
dix causes excruciating pain This is
he general picture. In addition there
cations, apparent only to a physician.
Therefore, If you are seized by a
zudden and violent pain in the right
ide, somewhere in the vicinity of the
0eIt, and this is followed by a slight
ever, the customary symptoms of
tick stomach. 1t is best to send for
1octor at once. And II he advises you
0 60 to a hospital for an operation do
% without senseless protest or delay.
appendicitis the surgeon is often
allied too late, but never too soon.
1--WE minutes may decide the issue be-
-ween life and death.
Medical treatment of appendicitis at
,est is inexact and hazardous. No
cnown drug is capable Of going to