[Appendicitis in the Black population].

In this retrospective study important aspects of appendicitis in 252 Blacks were studied and some interesting conclusions were drawn from clinical and operative data. Certain widely accepted impressions and beliefs are substantiated and others are refuted by the evidence found. In 38% of patients see, symptoms were present for more than 4 days before admission, but the clinical picture corresponded remarkably well with the textbook description. Operative findings revealed a diagnostic error rate of 18%, and the eventual mortality of 2% was confined to the 1st and 5th decades.