[net.origins] Appendix

dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois) (05/25/85)

> Oh, really? I have never of any function for the appendix!

Therefore it must not have one?

It has a function similar to that of the tonsils:  plays a role in the
immunological system.
-- 
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Paul DuBois     {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois        --+--
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ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac) (05/27/85)

> 
> > Oh, really? I have never of any function for the appendix!
> 
> Therefore it must not have one?
> 
> It has a function similar to that of the tonsils:  plays a role in the
> immunological system.
> -- 
> Paul DuBois     {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois        --+--
>                                                                     |
The question is really whether or not it plays a sufficiently useful role
to outweigh its disadvantages.  The medical consensus is that it doesn't.
The health of people who have lost their appendices is not significantly
affected.  The same is not true for people who have lost their tonsils.
Admittedly, I don't think the data on the former point is that extensive.
Sadly, there is a great deal of data for the latter point because the late
G. Eastman donated tonsilectomies to the poverty stricken children of
Rochester N.Y. as a philanthropic gesture.  

"Don't argue with a fool.      Ethan Vishniac
 Borrow his money."            {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
                               Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas