William Osler and appendicitis

Abstract

William Osler had cared for patients with ‘typhlitis’ and had seen perforations of the appendix in postmortem examinations before the day when he heard Reginald Heber Fitz proclaim that typhlitis was in fact disease of the appendix, that early surgery was indicated to treat perforation and that the process ought to be called ‘appendicitis’. This paper examines the evolution of Osler's thoughts about appendicitis and documents his changing recommendations for treatment as presented in the eight editions of his text published during his lifetime.