712 The Philippine Journal of Science 1921 
Male Female 
average. | average. 
cm. em. 
Fawcett and Blachford (6)_------------------------------------------------ 8.88 7.87 
Nowicki (00)... i252... so a a es sen en 252-52 === 7.40 7.20 
Bewry (1) ooo son sce ene Sas caw nnm eee —— ne enna senna n == nas sean s=-~ 8.60 8. 00 
by Kelynack(14) is so small that it may be ascribed to an error 
of procedure. The difference in our figures appears larger than 
that of other investigators, and we believe this to be due to the 
personal-equation because, as stated in the forepart of this paper, 
our measurements were taken by several persons. 
It is said that the length of the appendix has an important 
bearing upon the functional activity of the organ and that it 
plays a part in the etiology of appendicitis. It is certainly con- 
ceivable that a long appendix is more prone to become adherent 
in any pericecal inflammatory process or hernial formation than 
a short one. 
POSITION OF THE APPENDIX 
We must realize from the start that the position of the vermi- 
form appendix, even in normal conditions, is exceedingly va- 
riable. The absence of adhesive bands, its great mobility in the 
abdomen, the influence of such factors as the contents of the 
bowel, the pelvis, and various other conditions which affect its 
topography make the task of defining the position of the ap- 
pendix a very difficult and uncertain proposition. 
Robinson (24) says that the position of the appendix is greatly 
influenced by the following factors: 
Length of the mesoappendix. 
Degree of fullness of the stomach, colon, czcum, etc. 
The size and position of the uterus. 
The sex of the individual. 
Pressure and rigidity of the abdominal wall. 
Presence or absence of adhesions.- 
To the above conditions Nowicki(20) further adds the uncer- 
tainty of the point of the ceeco-appendicial union. Moreover, the 
conditions in the abdominal cavity of the living are so different 
from those in the dead that Piersol(21) goes so far as to say: 
“The position after death is, except in certain cases, no guide to 
that during life.” 
