Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-09-25
DR.. KNOX GIVES
ADVICE ON TONSILS
Should Only Be Removed After
Careful Examination Andl lAd-
vice From Physician

The question as to whether child's
tonsils AMID adenoids should be re-
moved when they are enlarged or in
fected can be satisfactorily answered
only after careful examination, by a
physician; of the individual child. 1t
is not matter for the lay person to
decide, DR.. J. H. M. Knox, Jr., said
referring to the large number of chill
dren among those who have been ex-
amined at the health conferences held
throughought the State under the aus
pices of the Bureau, and who were
found to have unhealthy or diseased
tonsils.
Undoubtedly" he continued, "these
structures aid the mouth and nasal
passages in catching and filtering out
particles of dust and other material
that might do injury if they passed
into the lungs. Fortunately, howev-
er, there are other glands in the
mouth and throat which have SINH
lar function so that so far as We
know at present, the body does not
suffer when the tonsils and adenoids
are taken out.
"The reasons for the operation,
when it is advised, are two fold. First
because the tonsils, which are found
at each side of the opening into the
throat, catch dust and germs of vari-
Gus kinds which enter with the BAG
terra, but through their many crypts
or tiny hollows, furnish places in
which the bacteria flourish and grow
and produce poisons which may be
spread through the whole BODY.
Diphtheria is an example of this kind
of action. The germs of diphtherla
find lodging place ready for them
in unhealthy tonsil tissues, and the
first evidences of the disease are Of
ten noticed in the tonsils.
"Second. The other reason for the
removal of the tonsils is that they
may become so large as to partly fill
the throat and make it difficult to
breathe easily. When this is the case,
there is almost always at some time,
an enlargement of the adenoid tissue
in the upper part of the throat back
of the nose.
GA child with these engagements
cannot breathe comfortably through
the nose. He keeps the mouth open
and is known as mouth breather.'
The nose is especially adapted for
warming and filtering the air before
it reaches the lungs and children who
have not this protection are much
more liable to colds and bronchitis
than others.
"Of course tonsils should not be
removed from every child. Ever
large tonsils may be left alone safely
if their surfaces are smooth and the
child is not subject to frequent at
tacks of tonsilitis.
"In the examinations that have
been made at the health conferences
held under the auspices of the Bureau
of Child Hygiene, many of the chill
dren whose health was definitely i'm
paired were found to have diseased
or greatly enlarged tonsils or ade-
noids. These children were all refer
red to their own doctors for final
decision.
eve know that enlarged and dis
eased tonsils and adenoids are COM
mon in childhood and it would seem
to be the duty of those who are re-
sponsible for the welfare of children
to take them to their doctor to be
sure that their tonsils and adenoids
are in normal condition.
"The operation for the removal Of
tonsils or adenoids is not dangerous
one if properly safeguarded and the
health of the child is usually greatly
improved. The operation must OF
course be performed only by proper
" qualified surgeon"