When I was three I had my appendix out, dr. used sulfer, but I was not allowed to have water (back n 1938) why

Question

I was remembering that I was begging for water, but I wasn't allowed to have it I had just had my appendix out and I was in the hospital for 21 days. (Because my parents didn't know what was wrong with me at the age of three) I went for days with a ruptured appendix (I guess) I don't know what happend but I almost died. My mother crying told the doctor to give me water and pull the plugs because I was crying and begging for water. So I just want to know what was the deal with not giving me water.

Answer 1

The doctor gave you a sulfonamide, one of the first antibiotics available. It was referred to as sulfa, often misunderstood by lay persons who thought they were given sulfur.

You were not given water because medical science was only beginning to understand fluid and electrolyte balance. But they knew if they gave you water you would vomit, making electrolyte imbalance worse. The work of scientists like Darrow, Gamble, Butler and Pratt was just beginning, and the multitude of doctors then in practice either did not know about it or did not comprehend its significance. For the past six decades, people have been given intravenous fluids to replace losses and fill fluid and electrolyte requirements.

Glad you survived. Many children of your era didn't.

Answer 2

Sorry to hear, you were denied a necessity.
But, if they used sulfer, then may be they did not want water to react with sulfur, as they reaction gives out a lot of heat, so it could burn your internal organs.

Just a guess according to what I have studied

Answer 3

well things have changed alot since 1938 but my guess would be sulfer is used to absord and they wanted the sulfur to absorb the poison and by drinking water it would take longer to absorb. doctors are more educated now days, they only did what they knew best back then. now days they have IVs you were just dehydrated then.