In the bowel perforation of typhoid fever and the bowel perforation of appendicitis we have, in a measure, allied surgical conditions. They are similar in that both result in peritonitis by the extravasation of the bowel contents into the peritoneal cavity. They are also similar in that the locations of both are, under ordinary circumstances, in the right iliac fossa. Given these anatomic similarities, why is the one so uniformly fatal and the other so uniformly successful in its issue? The surgical indications and the principles of treatment are identical, consequently, the conclusion necessarily follows that were the cases of perforation of the bowel in typhoid all accorded the prompt and active surgical care that a perforated appendix receives the outcome would be different.
To be sure, the patient with typhoid is seriously handicapped by the already existing typhoid infection, but that in itself, unless of serious degree, is no