The Trend of Politics

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 208, 30 May 1936, Page 13

The Trend of Politics

Sir, —A. few days ago you published a publie address given by a medical man who decried operations, and he especially mentioned appendicitis. In favour of operation the following facts are worth recording. It is well known that operations for appendicitis did not become popular until 1902, when the Coronation of King Edward VII was delayed by an attack of appendicitis. The King developed a pain, and, being a theatregoer, no doubt thought of “the rather tough worm in his little inside." and delayed consulting his physician. When finally he found that mind could not always control matter and consulted his physician, his condition was precarious: his life was saved by an operation performed by the great English surgeon,- Frederick Treves, who was later, and deservedly, knighted. Before that date cases were mostly treated medically. A reference to the Edinburgh hospital reports for the years 1894-98 show that during that period 112 cases of appendicitis were treated in the medical wards, and of these 12 died, i.e., 10.7 per cent. Now in face of facts like this what is the use of saying that without operation eases of appendicitis usually get well. Iu 1912 in the London hospital 1000 cases of appendicitis were operated with a mortality of 32, i.e., 3.2 per cent. In 1923, in the same hospital, of cases operated on within the first 24 hours there were 221, and of these two died, i.e., 0.9 per cent. Those of us who practised medicine before the days of early operation for appendicitis, found that cases which recovered often had a recurrence. Hence the modern orthodox treatment of early operation was adopted.—-I am, etc.. MEDICUS. Wellington, May 29.