HARDY GRAPES. 47 



termiuation. At times an abscess results which requires operation. 

 When the concretion ulcerates rapidly through the appendix, or 

 when the abscess breaks into the abdomen, it sets up a peritonitis 

 which proves fatal. The remedy lies in the surgeon's knife which 

 if used in season, by removing the inflamed appendix saves the 

 life and prevents any subsequent recurrence. 



In order to ascertain if there exists any connection between the 

 swallowing of grape seeds and this affection, I requested one 

 of the most eminent surgeons of Boston, Dr. Maurice H. Richard- 

 son, who has operated many times in these cases, to give me his 

 opinion. He informed me that in all his experience he had never 

 found a grape seed as the cause, but always a little hardened fecal 

 matter. Foreign bodies have been found to some extent, but the 

 rule is as here stated. Dr. Richardson assures me that while he 

 rejected the seeds of grapes for many j'ears he has now given up 

 the custom as an entirely unnecessary and inefficacious precaution 

 in the prevention of appendicitis. It might appear from the more 

 frequent notice of deaths in the newspapers of late that this disease 

 is largely on the increase and tiius in some way connected with the 

 enormously increased consumption of grapes, but the affection is 

 better diagnosed than formerly, when, without an operation or a 

 post mortem examination, it was set down as inflammation of the 

 bowels or peritonitis. 



I have purposely refrained from wearying you with many details 

 of management that would be interesting only to a few, knowing 

 that the discussion which is to follow would bring out such points 

 as might be desired. 



As a final word I desire to insist upon and emphasize the two 

 indispensable conditions for the highest success, which also apply 

 to the growing of all the larger tree fruits as well as grapes. One 

 is the necessity of ample, annual fertilization, and the other is the 

 severe thinning, by which quality of product, and consequent high 

 price are to be realized and maintained. 



Discussion. 



A gentleman in the audience spoke of a grape vine which was 

 infested with a caterpillar through the season. It was of a grayish 

 color, and varied from half an inch to two inches in length. A 

 hundred or more were taken ofl:, with a pair of nippers, every day 

 for several mouths. 



