Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 22nd, 1919 MR WILSON’S BREAKDOWN.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 22nd, 1919 MR WILSON’S BREAKDOWN.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger, publishes a long statement regarding the illness of President Wilson, which it says can be accepted as authentic. The statement, which is furnished by an authority for which the paper vouches reads:—"First, at Pueblo (Colorado) he (the President) became confused, lost the thread of his speech, and was unable to finish as he had prepared it. He was obviously not in complete control of his faculties. Second, this situation, which Admiral Grayson (his physician) had been fearing was due to no specific cerebal attack. It was not caused by any brain lesion or hemorrhage, but was due to a general nervous and physical breakdown growing out of the trip and the result of a series of contributing causes, immediate and of long range. Third, for one thing, when the President was at Princeton, he had a somewhat similar mental •and physical collapse, due. to overwork and to the situation in which he was fighting against a large group of people. But, as in the present case, there was no apoplectic stroke then. Fourth, thei jiinmediatet lea use of the breakdown on the trip wa s due to the physical train of his controversial speechmaking. In the first place, he had a ipisty cough, resulting from an in-

fluenza attack in Paris. A certain vocal bronchia! area gave him trouble, and the coughing, which was aggravated when he lay down, kept him from sleeping at night. On top of this, travelling by train brought on dysentery, alternating with constipation, which weakened him very seriously, and quite •lowered his general resistance to the strain of the journey. Then, thirdly, the shifting from high to low altitudes in travelling through Colorado affected him very unfavourably just at the time he reached Pueblo. Fifth, these complications brought - on severe headaches with continuing cough and a twitching of the muscles about the mouth on the left side, duo to nervous strain. With all these continuing

symptoms coming to a crisis at Pueblo, for Grayson Saw that a much more serfo ous attack could he avoided only by d return to Washington, with complete rest under expert observation. Sixth, on the President’s arrival at Washington it was feared at first that the bronchial trouble might call for surgical operation, but on examination this was not found necessary. All these things, however, plus the mental depression by reason of the failure to carry out his plan, brought about quite a collapse when he reached Washington, which led to calling in the family. There were marked alterations in his condition in the first week of his return. It was not until the second' week-that he was more fully in the control of the doctors and an 'upward turn towards complete recovery began. The specialists called in found no serious organic troubles. Dr Descliweinitz found no trace of .any retinal haemorrhage or .suffusion. H'is familiarity with the President, who has been his patient for years, led him to make a very reassuring diagnosis. Dr Dercum, who also has been familiar with the President for years and in friendly relations with himself and his family found that the President was clear-minded and simply in need of a care, rest and freedom from strain. At the end of the second week the condition of the President was such, aside from a slight but painful organic trouble mentioned in the despatches, as to warrant a very optimistic report, the recovery being so steady and sure. But all experts agreed that the daily bulletins must be of a most conservative character. Hence, even in face of the improvement, a phrase indicating that the President’s convalescence would take “a long period” wa s sent out. Since the close of the second week the case has been going on along normal lines. To the experts it has presented no unforseen complications. The denial of any cerebal attack is positive, just, as the denial that the President has any chronic serious organic trouble, such as diabetes or Bright’s disease. That he will have I to take care of himself in future is admitted by all who have been in touch I with the case.”