But such serious interference could not be entertained in cases like the one under consideration, for in this instance the good health of the patient up to the attack of peritonitis and in the absence of any manifestation of the presence of such a lesion as was found to exist by the autopsy, the exciting cause to the peritonitis could not be other than a mystery and explorative measures unwarranted.
In other cases where the history has been significant, the primary lesions determined, inciting such a peritonitis, bolder measures might be wisely considered.
It is evident that we are in the dawn of an era in surgical progress of clean hands and skilful manipulation, when explorative laparotomy as a diagnostic measure will not only be regarded as a feasible, but a practical procedure to recognize many doubtful pathological conditions that are amenable to successful surgical interference. Until experience and legitimate