Condition Reported Entirely Satisfactory

Chronicle (Levin), 14 March 1949, Page 5

Condition Reported Entirely Satisfactory

( N.Z.P.A. -

— . Reuter ,

Copyriffhi)

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. LONDON, March 13. The King was successfnly operated 011 thls morning at Buckmgv hani Palace. * His Majesty underwent an. operation to give a free flow of blood to his right foot. The following bulletm was issued from Buckingkam Palace at 11.15 a.m. : — "An operation of lumbar sympathectomy was performed on his Majesty at 11.10 a.m. His Ma, jesty's condition is entirely satisfactory." The bulletin was signed by Drs. Mauriee Cassidy, Tliomas Dunhill, Horace Evans, John Dilles, J. R. Learmonth, (\ J. Longland, J. Paterson Ross, A. J. Slessor and John Weir. A second bulletin, issued shortly after 7 p.m., said: — 4 "His Majesty had a restful day. Temperature, pulse and respiration rate have not varied i'rom normal and his Majesty 's recovery from the operation is proceeding smoothly." This bulletin was signed by Drs. Cassidy, Dunhill, Evans, (jilles, Learmonth, Paterson Ross and Weir. The operation was performed by Professor Learmonth, a Seottish authority on the surgery of the nervous systeni, with Professor Paterson Ross, Professor of Surgery at the University of London. Palaee officials emphasise that the operation was not regarded as an emergeney oue or as a last minute attempt 1o save the leg but rather as part of the cure. The Sunday Express medical correspondent says there is no doubt the decision to operate was taken beeause the treatment so far has not been eompletely effective. If the operation does not improve the circulat'ion of the leg, there is a possibility he may lose the limb. His Majesty will not see visitors, apart from members of the Royal family, for a few days but should it be necessary to see Ministers or State officials on urgent business, he will reeeive them while in bed. All the doctors looking after the King will remain in London over the weekend. The normal eonvalescenee from the operation is 14 to 20 days. His Majesty spent last evening quietly at the Palace with the Queen. Prineess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, contrary to their usual eustom of going away for the weekend, remained at the Palace last night. The operation was performed in a Palace bedroom which was specially eon\ erted into an operating theatre. Soon after the news of the operation, telegrams began ponring into the Palace wishing his Majesty a sp°edy recovery. Flowers were sent to the Queen. The operation —lumbar sympathectomv — consists of cutting the nerve controliing the flow of blood to the foot to improve the circulation. It took well under the hour to complete. His Majesty came out of the anaesthetic before noon. ,