What if space flier is ill

              What would happen to an as­tronaut if he suffered an acute attack of appendicitis on his way to the moon?
Tile medical director of NASA said here Thursday this is one of   many   medical   problems
which may have to be faced in the future.
"There are physicians who go so far as to advocate removal of the appendix before flight as a prophylactic measure," added Dr. H. Stoddard, of Washington, D. C. "I'm opposed to this. This is way out."
Dr. Stoddard was a featured speaker Thursday at closing sessions of the American College of Surgeons at the Roose­velt Hotel.
DR. STANDER NAMED
Dr. Leonard Standfer of Baton Rouge was elected president of the Louisiana chapter of the college. And another surgeon, Dr. Donald D. Effler of Cleve­land, turned thumbs down on heart transplants. He predicted the replacement of the future will be the artificial heart. | In discussing what to do about an astronaut in space who is possibly suffering from appendicitis, Dr. Stoddard said, f) r                  "The best thing probably would
to have him take some antibiotics."
"You couldn't be sure he ac­tually had appendicitis^ of c o u r s e," the physician ex­plained; "Even right here on earth doctors sometimes have a very hard time diagnosing this ailment correctly."
Dr. Stoddard said an auto­matic syringe has been devel­oped for giving hypodermic in­jections right through the space suits. He said in the past space­ships have been equipped with medical kits containing such needed drugs as antibiotics,* headache remedies, space-sick­ness pills and antihistamins. TESTS POSSIBLE
"There's also a device which j makes it possible to take cer­tain blood chemistry tests while the spaceship is in flight and to send information back to earth for analysis," the physician added.
Dr. Stoddard told about extra ventilation suits, now being tested, which will protect the space traveler should it become necessary for him to leave the spacecraft. The NASA physi­cian said engineers are also busy simulating life on the moon.
"One of our biggest problems, of course, is that of weightless­ness," explained the physician. "It is most difficult to obtain precise information on this, since this is an aspect of space flight which cannot be simulat­ed in earth-bound laboratories."
Dr. Stoddard said weightless­ness can affect the ability of the astronaut's body to maintain blood pressure during periods of great stress, such as time of reentry. He said this can cause the astronaut to lose conscious­ness.
"There's also the possibility that there will be changes in the calcium circulating in his blood supply," the physician ex­plained. "As another result of weightlessness, there might be particles floating around in the
cabin. Such particles could be sucked up into the windpipe of a member of the spacecraft crew in such a way as to inter­fere with his breathing. That it is why it is so important to keep the spacecraft cabin spotlessly clean."
COMPLICATED BUSINESS In   advocating   an   artificial heart as a replacement for a worn-out human heart, Dr. Effler

PHOTO: DR. D. H. STODDARD Discusses astronaut illnesses. PHOTO: DR. HOWARD D. SIRAK (left) of Ohio State University and Dr. Donald B. Effler of Cleveland, Ohio, were speakers on Thursday's closing program of the American College of Sur­geons at the Roosevelt Hotel.