The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 23, 1909. APPENDICITIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 498, 23 October 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, October 23, 1909. APPENDICITIS.

Thk Internalioual Medical Congress at Budapest has bad a general discussion on the treatment of appendicitis, in which a large number of well-known surgeons, physicians, and obstetricians took part. According to the views expressed, the speakers divided themselves into three groups—those favouring operation in all cases, those for operation in selected cases, and those for no operation at all. Dr. Tenhartz, of Hamburg, and Dr. Bourget, of Dausanne, were able to champion the last-named method. They asserted that, by means of careful internal treatment, good nursing, and starvation, they had been able to show a lower mortality than the surgeons could show. The champions of the other extreme failed to obtain the warm support which has been extended to them during the past few years, and the consensus of opinion was against such radical measures. The majority of the speakers also condemned the practice of making a puncture to determine whether an abscess had formed or not. A number of surgeons regarded operation, if it could be performed within 24 or 48 hours, as the proper treatment, and would only operate later if sudden complications threatened the patient’s life. Dr. Sonnenburg, of Berlin, led the way in this argument. The question of the removal of the appendix was also considered, and was regarded by many as unnecessary. Viewing the discussion in its entirety, it might be said that surgeons had operated too much in the past, and have now received a check, and that they have failed to justify their part in the procedure.