William Osler and appendicitis

摘要

Summary: William Osler had cared for patients with ‘typhlitis’ and had seennperforations of the appendix in postmortem examinations before the day when henheard Reginald Heber Fitz proclaim that typhlitis was in fact disease of the appendix,nthat early surgery was indicated to treat perforation and that the process ought to bencalled ‘appendicitis’. This paper examines the evolution of Osler’s thoughts aboutnappendicitis and documents his changing recommendations for treatment as presentednin the eight editions of his text published during his lifetime.