REMOVAL OF TONSILS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 103, 31 October 1938, Page 3

REMOVAL OF TONSILS

1)10 XX I'j QUINTUPLETS Dll. DAFOE’S PIIOJ3LEAi CALL A N.D Ell. Sept. .o.—Surgeons will separate the Dionne quintuplets from tlieir tonsils and adenoids this fall, according to reliable reports here. The quints .may experience the first surgical operation in their eventful young lives. Dr. A. 11. Dafoe, physician to the famous four-year-olds, would not confirm er deny the reports. “We never know what will happen from day.to day,” he said. Fearful of risking the quints’ lives under a general anaesthetic, Dr. Dafoe has opposed the operations in the past, hut the three-week illness 0 i the youngsters from 1 throat infections in August is understood to have forced him to the conclusion that the removal of their tonsils is necessary. '1 he adenoids will come out at the same time. Diseased for Year.

Coincident with the disclosure that the operations have been decided upon, came information that Emilio was much more’ seriously ill in August than was announced. Her life is said to have been in danger for a few days.. The quints’ tonsils have been diseased for a. year or more, hut Dr. Dafoe has clung to the hope that treatment would carry them over the critical stage and operations would not be necessary. He said recently that they would he undertaken only as a last resort. A general anaesthetic probably will ho necessary because children usually are frightened when a local anaesthetic is used. There is also the consideration that four-year-olds won’t he quiet enough to permit a surgeon to work with a local.