Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-14

eyes were discolored and their conquest
were coated with fur.
The change was noted in every one
of the IL operated animals. II there
fore could not have been due to acct
dent or to the weakness of any partic-
ular monkey. The IL unoperated ami
mails remained in perfect health, and
their intestinal activity was excellent
1t therefore appeared certain that
the change in condition was due to the
removal of the appendix.
1t is important to note that monkey
does rot depend on the contractile
movements of the walls of his intes-
tines as much as a man does. In many
the food, after passing from the stom-
ach into the small intestine is obliged
to pass upward into the ascending COLI
on against the force of gravity. A
man is therefore entirely dependent
on the contractile movements of the
walls of his intestines for their proper
action. Gravity cannot do the work
This popularity is due to the upright
| position man has assumed in the course
| of evolution.
| The position of the human appendix
may be briefly explained. At the lower
opening of the stomach the small intes-
| tine, in which much of our digestion
takes place, begins. This changes into
| the large intestine, so called from its
large diameter. The beginning Of the
| largo intestine is in a pouch called the,
caecum. AT the bottom of the caecumi
is the little blind tube we call the YER
inform appendix.
From the caecum the food must be
forced upward through the ascending
colon for about 10 inches, then across
| the width of the abdomen and then
down again. Hence it is clear that if
the intestines are sluggish there must
be great congestion around the cae-
cum and appendix.
In animals that run entirely or usu-
ally on all tours the food does not have
to pass up into an ascending colon, but
/ almost entirely in a lateral direction
/ Moreover, the great activity of the
animal helps to empty the intestines
The French doctors then made a.
fresh series Of experiments to show
that the changes in intestinal activity
were directly due to the appendix.
Ihey removed the appendix from one
OF the healthy monkeys, prepared a Sc
rum from it and administered this to
enc of the monkeys without an appen-
ak. The administration was followed
| by an increased activity of the intes-
! tines.
section of the colon of a monkey
was removed and the appendix serum
placed In contact with 1t so that.
changes could be watched through a
small window. AS soon as the liauid
touched the surface OF the fresh colon
wall strong contraetions of the tissues
could be noted
IN these experiments six of the mon.
Keys with appendices and six OF those
without appendices were killed. leay-
nag SIX with and six without. In a ne-
flod varying from six weeks to four
months, three of the monkeys without
appendices died premature death.
Inc other three were kept alive by an
peho1x serum. This was proof that the
Irernoture death OF the three monkava
was due to the lack of appendix secre-
! ton.
The six monkeys that had never been
operated on remained alive, and well
az the end of the four months. eating
their ordinary food.
It was thus proved by a number of
different experiments that the appen-
DIX performed an important function
1 in keeping up the activity of the intes-
tines. The experiments have been laid
before the Paris Academy of Sciences,
en- dexeited great interest among the
French medical profession.
A layman is likely to observe that
he has known Of many cases where the
removal of the appendix was not fol-
lowed by premature death, as occurred
IN three of the monkeys, or by any
very serious consequences. 1t must be
remembered that man has many re-
sources for protecting himself against
inactivity of the intestines which the
monkey does not have. When an I'm
] portant function of the body is stopped
/ the animal body has little or no power
/ Ct protecting itself against the change
or accommodating itself to 1t. Man is
remarkable among the animals for his
/ power of resisting disease and un-
healthy conditions.
I The great lesson OF the experiments
for man seems to be that he should aim
to keep his appendix in good condition
In order that 1t may perform its proper
functions. The removal of the appen-,
elk cannot be regarded as a perfect
cure for appendicitis, as it usually is
regarded by surgeons and most Iaymen
In future it is hoped that doctors will
I strive more earnestly to save the an
/ pendix and make it do its natural work.
instead of shipping it off at the first
! sign of trouble.