The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-09-24
THE QUESTION OF, ToNsILs
From state Dept. of Health.

|
"The question as to whether a
childs tonsils and adenoids should be
removed when they are enlarged or
infected can be satisfactorily an
swered only after careful examina-
ton, by a physician, of the in
dividual child 1t is not a matter
for the lay person to decide" DR..
j. H. M Knox, Jr., Chief of the
Bureau of Child Hygiene of the
State Department of Health, said
referring to the large number of
children among those who have been
examined at the health conferences
held throughout the State under tho
auspices of the Bureau, and who
were found Ito have unhealthy or
diseased tonsils.
Undoubtedly" he continued
these structures aid the mouth and
nasal passages in catching and filter
ing out particles of dust and Other
material that might do injury i.
they past into the lungs. For
tunately, however. there are other
glands in the mouth and throa.
which have similar function so tha'
so far as we know at present, the
body does not suffer when Tho
consils 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 anG
germs of various kinds which enter
with the air or food, and often be-
come diseased. That is, they do no
destroy the bacteria, but through
their many crypts or tiny hollows
furnish places in which the bacteri;
flourish and grow and produc
poisons which may be spread through
the whole body. Diphtheria is an
example of this kind of action. The
germs of diphtheria find lodging
place ready for them in unhealth!
tonsil tissue, and the first evidences
of the disease are often first noticed
bin 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 adenoi6
tissue in the upper part of the throat
| back of the nose.
"a child with these enlargement
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 filterine
the air before it reaches the lungs
and children who have not this pro
lection are much more liable to colds
and bronchitis than others.
"Of course tonsils should not be
removed from every child. Even
large tonsils may left alone safely
if their surfaces are smooth and the
child is not subject to frequent at
tacks of tonsilitis. !
been made at the health conferences
held under the auspices of the
Bureau of Child Hygiene, many of
the children whose health was def
initely impaired were found to have
diseased or greatly enlarged tonsils
or adenoids. These children were
all referred to their own doctors for
a final decision.
"We know that enlarged and
diseased tonsils and adenoids are
common in childhood and it would
seem to be the duty of those who are
responsible for the welfare of chill
dren to take them to their doctor TIC
be sure that their tonsils and ade-
noids are in normal condition.
1.-THE operation for the removal OF
tonsils or adenoids is not a danger
GUS one if properly safeguarded and
the health of the child is usually
greatly improved. The operation
must of course be performed only by
a properly qualified surgeon"