As the newspapers reported itThe 1926 illness of Harry Houdini

As printed: Condition Magician Houdini Very Low

ContextHarry Houdini, the magician and escape artist, fell ill while on tour and was operated on in Detroit for appendicitis. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the abdomen, and doctors have few means of checking it.

As printed: HOUDINI, FAMOUS MAGICIAN, DIES

ContextHarry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, was the most famous magician and escape artist of his day and had spent his last years publicly exposing spirit mediums; he fell ill while touring and was operated on in Detroit for appendicitis. Peritonitis is an infection of the lining of the abdomen, which doctors of the time had few means of checking.