Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-02-15
Appendicitis Operations.

A patient asked us a few da;
ago how many cases of appendK
citis we had cured during OFF
seventeen years practice.
We said probably few sco,S
would cover the number, if on
diagnosis be taken as basis, hi
| III every case we had cured thu
had been pronounced appendix
ciiis by other physicians and surs
geons. the number would read
into the hundreds.
1t is amazing. yes, appalling
the hosts who have been told tho9
must go to the hospital for t!4
removal of their appendix elsS
they would endanger their life lH
neglect to do so; so take ostess
pathis treatment as a less dam
gerous experiment than an operS
alton, and find satisfactory rel
suits therefrom.
Cases that were cured sever;N
years ago show no recurrence
land none of them have take
treatment without some improvsa
ment, at least, and none of the
were ever injured in any W.
which is quite the contrary to It'd
results anyone can recall fro
experiences they have had oppo
tunity to observe in others thaAs
have known who tried surgical
Operations.
We are frequently asked why i
is so rare they hear of osteopathf
sending patients off for opera
ltions. Many ask us if we ever dl
believe in them. We wish /
known that we claim to have on
of the finest hospitals, with SOM
of the greatest surgeons in tha
land in charge thereof, at TIL
college of Osteopathy at Kinks
willie, and at some of the othsa
Osteopathic colleges. In necess
sary cases we believe in, and urgs
surgical operations.
The late DIR. Murphy, per
sonal friend Of DR.. Geo. Still, gu
head surgeon att Kirksville hos
pital, claims that less than thu
per cent of appendicitis cas
lever form an abscess, and no
pendix ever becomes gangreneG
the first attack, which is CO.
trary to the belief of the gene
public. Many cases in this CO.'S
munity can be cited, who haN
doctored for months and even fds
years with supposed appendicitis
so diagnosed by different phys I
clans, but have been cured BY osI
teopathy. 1
We have received letters frl%
grateful patients after they hal
been cured urging us to pria
them in the papers, telling 9th 4
sufferers Of the gratitude becau:S
Osteopathy has saved them frog
invalidism, and from the DANCE
and expense of operations.
We have appreciated the spirs
prompting them, but have refuse
to publish them, because Il
prejudice existing in the mind
of many against such publicity.I
| There is not week passes the
we do not have patients come q
us for treatment for various con
Editions, for which they hav|
sought help, in hospitals, min
eral springs, change of climat,I
letc., etc., with unsatisfactory re-
suits and express regret that the
were SO prejudiced, or ignoran
of the possibilities and virtues o
Osteopathy, and refused to TAX
treatment earlier, when they fin,
it does for them what all othe
measures have failed to do.
| And those unfortunates VIII,
make another big band also, VIII,
finally resort to treatment ate
they have had their operation.
and are no better, and many ar,
much worse; yet they find grea
improvement is generally made
after they have despaired of eve
finding help.
May we not .rge a considera.
ton and investigation before
rather than after, an operation
for we realize much of the sue
cess we have been permitted u
enjoy in this county is because o.
our ability to save so many from
the surgeons knife in such a wide
range of conditions considered
hopeless without surgery.
How many would consent to the
removal of any other organ just
because it hurt them, or was in
famed?
The law before the Legislature
in Dakota would be a great NeSs-
ing to their state if put into Op-
Grafton, viz, no pay could be col
lected by the surgeon, if he ~
moved an appendix that was nd
really diseased.
Not ono in Ton oocnc oaora tt.n