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The aspect of the King's illness

In the early days of the King's illness many people ventured upon the tolerably safe prediction that one result of the melancholy event would be that closer attention would be given to the subject of appendicitis, the disease which necessitated the operation from which His Majesty has now happily recovered. That increased attention has been directed to the subject, but so far it seems to have expended itself in discussion, and we do not appear to be any nearer to a solution of the questions upon which opinion is divided among those to whom we look for guidance. With all anxiety removed in reference to the King's health, we may perhaps be permitted to glance at some aspects of this subject which afford a strange mixture of tragedy and comedy. Whatever may be said, it is evident that there is a wide difference of opinion among surgeons and physicians in this country, as there is between the medical profession of Britain and that of the United States. Except where there is an abscess, as in the King's case, our physicians are strongly opposed to an operation. It is said by some surgeons that when a physician treats a case where an operation should be undertaken, he holds out to the last, and then says, "Let us try one more drug before we operate," with the result that when the operation takes place it is too late, and the patient dies. To this suggestion the physician replies, "Don't talk to me about your operations. Haven't I been present as a student at many operations which ought never to have been done, and in several cases the patient has died in consequence? That is how you surgeons get your skill." We have the most intense admiration for the British medical profession, which we believe to be the most honorable and the most skilful in the world; but these remarks and their general meaning are not the mere product of anybody's imagination. With this diversity of opinion what is the patient to do? He asks a surgeon whether an operation is necessary, and the reply is "Certainly." Then if he consults a physician he is advised that an operation is altogether unnecessary. If he compares the practice in the United States with that at home, he will not obtain any further light. In the States there is no hesitation. As soon as it is clear that the case is one of appendicitis, the surgeon operates, and thus, by one process, relieves the patient from his agony and secures him from future attacks. But the British medical profession will not hear of such a thing. Unless there is an abscess they positively refuse to operate with a high temperature, and tell the patient that he must get well before they make him ill again.

Then there is another divergence of opinion which may be noted in passing. Some distinguished medical men have recently formed an opinion that there is some connection between appendicitis and tonsilitis, and when a patient goes to them who has had an attack of appendicitis they astonish him by carefully examining his tonsils. The rest of the profession say it would be quite useful to examine the lining of the patient's hat.

Framlingham Weekly News, 9 August 1902. This article is reproduced with permission of the Lanman Museum, Framlingham. Submitted by J A Black, retired consultant paediatrician, Victoria Mill House, Framlingham.

The operation on Edward VII, performed by Sir Frederick Trebes on 24 June necessitated the postponement of the coronation from 26 June to 9 August, the day on which this article was published; elsewhere are featured the King's address to his people and the arrangements for the coronation service.