The Tonsils
Q. Of what use are the tonsils and should they be
removed?
A. The tonsils are lymphatic glands. Their function is
to protect the body against the great number of microbes which collect in the
mouth.
They are also connected with the functions which
promote the growth and development of the body.
Diseased tonsils are a
constant menace to the body, proving an open door for the entrance of harmful
organisms. Tuberculosis germs and other disease-producing bacteria often find
their way into the body through the open portal provided by diseased tonsils.
The tonsils harbor disease germs, such as pneumonia and diptheria, also the
germ of influenza or la grippe. These germs are lying there ready to develop whenever the vital resistance is lowered by cold,
exhaustion, indigestion, or any other depressing cause. Diseased tonsils are
often a cause of rheumatism and probably other serious maladies.
Tonsils which frequently become raw or inflamed or which are
constantly enlarged with pockets full of pus should be promptly removed.
The question is often asked, will not removal of the
tonsils change the voice or spoil the singing or speaking voice? The operation will change the voice. It
will improve it. The tonsil should not be removed unless so badly diseased that it has ceased to be of
any value to the body and has become a source
of injury.