After several years of extensive and systematic study, Aschoff, one of the best known pathologists in Germany, has published a monograph on appendicitis1 which is of great importance because of its scope, its thoroughness and the apparent finality of some of its teachings. It may be of interest to discuss briefly some of the more striking results reached.
In the first place, Aschoff made a thorough study of the normal appendix at various periods of life, using for this purpose the most approved methods. In the newborn the appendix does not contain any lymph follicles in the submucosa and the lining is not folded, but during infancy and childhood the lymphatic tissue in the submucosa greatly increases, the muscularis mucosæ becomes better marked and the mucous membrane folded. In the adult the mucosa presents quite definite furrows, partly longitudinal and partly transverse, and the submucosa consists of lymphatic tissue