KING’S HEALTH

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1928, Page 5

KING’S HEALTH

LUNG TROUBLE PERSISTS. GROUNDS FOR CONSTANT ANXIETY. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, December 7. Dr Hodgson, who conducted the radiograph examination, returned to tho Palace in the evening, and hud a consultation with Lord Dawson and Sir I l ’. S. Hewitt. At the ’same time a. taxi arrived hearing the proofs of the radiograph. An eminent authority says that in this particular illness it is recognised that the crisis once over the characteristic is seldom present, hut the period of infection is lengthened. His Majesty’s illness is of unusual severity, because infection reached the blood stream, meaning general infection of the whole body. Until recent years a doctor was of little value. It was a matter of nursing. “It could he safely said that if this unusually severe attack had occurred sixty years ago, it would have been fatal within a few days. In these days, chemicals wore injected for killing off the germ which is responsible for infection of the blood stream, thus increasing the number of white cells to fight it.” The Railway Company operating the Flying Scotsman, has arranged for copies of the morning bulletin issued after its departure from London, to be telegraphed to York, whore travellers are informed. Bulletins by wireless are received by tho all-night-trans-Channel steamers. . Lord Hewott later returned to the Palace, and will remain for the night. The King’s private secretary, replying to-night, to a message from Norfolk Yeomanry Old Comrades, stated : “llis Majesty’s symptoms are improving, and the situation is less anxious.” PRINCE AT CAIRO.

LONDON, December 8. The Prince of Wales arrived nl Suez to-night. The Enterprise covered the 1,500 miles from Aden in approximately fifty-one hours, thus lier total estimated steaming; lime from Dares Salaam to Suez was .‘1,500 miles, 121 hours. Lord Lloyd met and accompanied him in a special train to Cairo. He . leaves for Port Said on Saturday where ho will embark on the Enterprise which is scheduled to arrive at Brindisi on Monday morning, though possibly Sunday night, in which case it is arranged for a special to leave immediately. M. Doumergue has instructed the police to depute a personal bodyguard on board the train at the Swiss herder. ' Rejmisentutives of the British and Italian Governments, and the King ol Italy, and Mussolini, will meet the Prince- of Wales at Brindisi, hut only by their presence, and not by ceremonial, will they symbolise God speed to tho Prince, and wishes for the King’s recovery. Railway engineers have been placed at important junctions to ensure that, the train * will not he delayed, and everything is done to render a safe and quick passage. The actual route will be by the Milan St. Gothord tunnel, ' Basle. Belfort, and Chanmont Chalons, avoiding Paris! Tie will touch Amiens, and then Boulogne. Sir Godrfey Thomas, Secretary to tho Prince frf Wales, left London for Brindisi with a complete kit of warm clothing. PHYSICIANS’ DILEMMA.

LONDON, December The “Daily Chronicle’s” medical expert says that all the doctors recognise that relatives and friends of the patient generally desire an intelligible label to be affixed to any serious illness, but when the symptoms obstinately refuse to conform to any classification of generally understood types, curiosity cannot be satisfied. This is the dilemma with which the physicians are faced. H'oy are suddenly confronted with a combination of symptoms which are serious but unsettled, although in themselves easily recognised. They are therefore obliged to treat the symptoms. This has been done so temperately and wisely / that there is every reason to believe His Majesty will ultimately be spared to the nation. The only important present question is the maintenance ol the patient’s strength, upon which the bulletins continue to be optimistic. | Whenever a bulletin says “ general condition unchanged,” the people may f look forward with considerable confidence to a favourable issue.

progress ok illness. LONDON, December R. Close on the third week ol llis Majesty’s illness finds anxiety only V slightly relieved. It. is generally real- | S t h a fc a week ago the worst dauf gers had drawn very near. Though the i a i el . development was somewhat more hopeful, it did not remove grounds lor constant and immediate anxiety No i quick decisive improvement can lie ex- • Peeled in a case of this nature t,s a slow illness. The idea that there ' will he a crisis, after a period ol convalescence is shown by well-.-dormed articles published in this week s medical journals to be an illusion. lh« "disease conforms to a type in which there is not a single crisis, but a |m»-. ,traded succession of «ps am douns The nation must wait patiently amid l the loyal hopes and prayers, the onl- \ come of which in the last resort I human skill can wholly deform,no. m Eminent doctors in attendance, in ■ their position wield on Tl.s Majesty s B behalf the -latest and most vaiiec ie of medical science. It is pio-

bably true that had the same illness attacked a decade ago, the medical resources of that day would not have saved him. CONDITION LESS REASSURING. LONDON, December S. A bulletin at 11..‘50 stall's that the King had some hours sleep. Mis temperature is still raised on account of local iinig condition, llis general condition is the same. Sir E. S. Hewett and Lord Dawson, in a later message, m view of the ineonclusive character of the Indict in, says that the King's condition cannot he regarded as entirely .satisfactory. Although a maintenance of his genera! condition at a steady level is an important feature, the persist, ir-e of lung tronhh* is causing the physicians a certain amount of worry. There is an absence of any definite signs of improvement. and in this respect it is less reassuring tic,:n could lie desire:!. Reference to temperature is still being raised. It docs not mean that it has become higher, hut is still subject to fluctuations, and remains above normal. Sir F. S. Ileweti, Lord Dawson, and. Drs. Buzzard. Rolleston. and Hodgson held a consultation at the Palace in the afternoon. LONDON. December 7. Lord Dawson and Sir F. S. Hewett loft the Palace alter the bulletin had been posted. For the past fne nights Sir F. S. Hewett has remained. I __ _ A PAPER’S COMMENT. LONDON, December 0. The “News of the World” says that the King was under an anaesthetic on December 2nd when an examination was made. it- was the action of the anaesthetic which led to the necessity of giving oxygen in order to support the heart. “ Gossiper ” in the same journal says the King is exhibiting his usual sense of humour and insists on hearing the wreless bulletin in his bedroom and makes caustic remarks thereon. He has seen some personal pels, including a devoted parrot “Charlotte,” which the King has had since he was a captain in the navy. “Charlotte,” however, became so excited and yelled so loudly his favourite remark “How do captain,” that In* had to he removed. The King’s Sealyhnin terrier Jobe was much more sensible and quiet. 'I hereto re he has been more frequently admitted.

PRINCE OK WALES. HIS .JOURNEY HOME. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, December 0. There is the keenest interest in the Prince of Wales journey. The whole country will he relieved when In* reaches London, lie managed to secure a little exorcise at Cairo where lie played an energetic game of squash racquets. This made necessary purchases of clothing, so he visited the famous Bazaar and bought three Bokhara carpets. He tried to find an ancient Arab •chest, hut tin’s was not obtainable. He later went to tho citadel, whence he had a magnificent view and also visited King Fuad, thence to the station, where ho entrained for Port Said, where he rejoined the Enterprise and sailed at 11.20 in the evening. Tie is expected at Brindisi within twentyfour hours, and London oil Wednesday morning. ft is reported from Brindisi that crowds are already gathering, although the authorities have been warned Irom Rome that the Prince must not be interrupted hv demonstrations. An Italian aeroplane has arrived and will he placed at the Prince of Wales's disposal. PRINCE IN EGYPT. CAIRO, December 8. When the Prince of Whiles arrived, owing to the early hour, there were no large crowds assembled, hut many proceeding to work respectfully saluted. The Prince was looking very bronzed hut tired. He drove to fhe Residency with Lord Lloyd, where he was shown the latest bulletins and was relieved to hear the reassuring news. Alter a short rest ho went to Gezira Spoils Club. A MODERATE BULLETIN. (Received this day at 8.30. a.m.) LONDON, December 8. A bulletin at 11 15 a.m., states the King has had several hours of sleep. A prolongation of the lever is Inning (he inevitable effect of producing a certain measure of exhaustion. I ho pulse, however, remains steady. IL'\\oti, Dawson. PARTICULAR!-’ OF BULLETIN. !Receiver this day at 0.25. a.m.) LONDON. Dee. 0. Despite the morning Bullet in being less satisfactory Ilian Imped, the ‘‘Central News ” has the highest authority for stating that actually his Majesty s condition remains comparath el,\ un changed. A reference to the exhaustion caused some anxiety, hut it was stated if was no more than the doctors expected, in view of the tact that the long, tedious illness had reduced the King’s recuperative powers. Doelors Hewitt- and vwsoii were in consultation 105 mini, as before they issued the Bulletin, Uh* nature of which create* nn anxious feeling among thousands waiting at I he Balance. 'I lIF. ILLNESS REVIEW ED. (Received this day at 0. a.m.) LONDON. Hoc. 8. A lore information on the Kings condition was given to-day tliau on any day since 28th November. MU' statement wil Be read Empiie "lie with a feeling of deep thankfulness Tt confirms all the reports cable* stressing the seriousness of the illness and gravity ol the condition. In

fact it is now stated publicly on the highest authority that the King’s life has been more than once in danger, and fully justified all the warnings giveil .once the illness began. r J liese were necessarily couched in cautious ■ language because His Majesty read lie own morning pa,pm - as long as possible and even often when unable to do so lie displayed interest in the bulletins. Those accustomed to tho right use of words however had no difficulty in detecting the anxiety underlying tin* published statements of tin' past three weeks. The fact that; for a second time in a week five doctors held ;t consultation at the Palace where they remained ninety minutes is taken to indicate they desired to discuss the future line of treatment of the stubborn persistence of tho infected area of the lung. Nowhere is there a suggestion of renewed anxiety. Contra wise the “Evening Standard’s” well informed diarist says hi(jiudition is no worse. He- is not without authority in saying the doctors are fairly satisfied. A specialist- writing for the “Standard'’ says the -bulletins of the last few days; have been much more favourable than would have been expected, considering him seriously ill the King was a week ago. with heart weakness of which there has been no mention recently. Apparently it is not causing so much trouble, which means the patient has a better chance of lighting tin: fresh threat of empyema or a collection of matter in the pleural cavity. On the other ham! tho temperature shows that the danger of such a development is by no means past. There is other medical opinion ((noted by “Central News” which comments on the rise in temperature with the absorption of toxins from the congested area of the lungs.' The “Sunday Express” medical correspondent emphasises the hopefulness of the sign that no mention lias been made of the collection of fluid. There was again a large crowd outside the Palace to read the bulletin, despite bitterly cold wealhor and a ground frost. A good omen is drawn from the fact that the Duchess of York was smiling brightly when she and the Duke drove off at 2.21). Tl is learned that the bulletins directly they arc prepared, one is always sent first to the Queen. Copies arc promptly telegraphed to the King’s relatives in Britain and abroad incl nil ing ‘ I lie Duke of Connaught at Nice. LONDON Dec. 0. Five doctors, alter a rnnferonro. left the Palace at 2.15. All returned at 7 o’clock and remained until an hour after the issue of the evening bulletin. This is the first Lime they have thus stayed on. Dr Hewitt again spout the night at tlio Palace. A QUIET DAY. (Received this day at 12.25. p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 0. A bulletin issued at 8.2(1 p.m. stated tne King had passed a quiet day but there was no diminution in the exhaustion mentioned in the morning bulletin. The pulse remains steady. NOT REASSURING. EXPRESSIONS OK OPINION. (Received this day at 1.0 p.m.) LONDON. December 0. An eminent physician in a statement to the “Daily Express” said: ” Mention of no diminution of exhaustion is not a hopeful sign, being much to the opposite. The whole question now is tlie ability of tho constitution and system generally to recover. II at this stage the King is beginning to become exhausted, and the'lever is continuing, it makes the outlook very serious indeed.” A .semi-official statement says tonight’s bulletin is not- regarded as reassuring. The reference to the pulse for the first time to-day is not altogether a good sign. It seems to indicate that while the doctors are able to report the pulse remains steady, they are watching carefully for possible future development. Drs Hewitt and Dawson saw His Majesty for half an hour this afternoon, and a longer visit in the evening. Bacteriologist Whitoby was in conference with them in the evening, but did not see the King. Nevertheless it should he noted that the Queen for the first time for many days, lunched away from the palace, eiiing to the York’s home along with Princess Mary and Lord Lasceiles.