WHEN IT IS NOT APPENDICITIS.

NZ Truth, Issue 67, 29 September 1906, Page 6

WHEN IT IS NOT APPENDICITIS.

TOO MANY OPERATIONS.

A Paris correspondent reports that •Professor Dieulafoy's protest against operations m cases which are believed to be connected with appendicitis, but really are not, continues to form the topic of considerable discussion 'm the French capital. In his communication to the Faculty of Medicine he stated that during "the present year he had already saved seven persons affected with typhocolitis from operations for appendicitis. The public, as he explained, was not aware of the errors that were committed m diagnosis, but all the same it must think that appendicitis was a curiously common malady, as so many people were operated upon for it. The people certainty did not know that many of these persons were not suffering from that complaint. * * .'• - The learned professor showed the mischief that might result from such blunders among patients afflicted with typhocolitis. Told that they had been attacked by , appendicitis ami would have to undergo an operation, they became sad and uneasy, and anxious about the choice oil their food. They wasted away, and tormented themselves over every symtom. ■ Sometimes they consented to an operation, at other times . they refused. "Their existence is poisoned," he continued, "and if I speak thus it is because I have been able to give close attention for 10 years to -this question.' How often has- it happened; to me to put a stop to surgical interventions with persons who. were about to be operated on. Years have rolled by, and time has proved that there was; no mistake m my diagnosis. How often have I been able to restore calm and 'quietness., to patients suffering from, typhocoltis by telling them that they were perfectly free, from appendicitis, with which itliey had been pronounced to be affected." .So exclaimed the great authority of the Hotel Dieu, and. 'so' fair,' no attenipt has been made 'to refute his statements.