THE KING’S ILLNESS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5424, 15 May 1929, Page 4

THE KING’S ILLNESS.

HIS WONBEBFUL CONSTITUTION. What actually saved the King’s life ? I think more than anything; else it was a combination ef his true British grit (writes a specialist closedy conversant with his illness). Added to this he had the advantage of specialists with a ktio.wledge of modern science, and (quite as important as .any other factor in his recovery) exceedingly line pursing. 'And nursing plays a vital part in a case of this, nature. There is no doubt that .the effect of sun treatment has played an important part in the process of healing and resuscitating the diseased tissues. It should be appreciated, however, that ray therapy is a form Pf treatment which has tb be carried: out mos.t judiciously by experts—otherwise serious consequenc.es may follow. The main cause of anxiety all the way through has, been the weak state of the King’s heart. T.hq increased rate of respiration and the exertion of aboured breathing, especially with one lung failing to function, would seriously impede the heart’s action. THE GREAT QUESTION. •■With this statei of things proceed, ing without any appreciably mitigation for so many days, anxiety was naturally increasing daily till an abatement took place. Even then it was a great question whether the enfeebled state of thq heart would be able to re act strongly enough for its owner to recover. The illness may be traced briefly as follows:: First, a slight, attack of bronchitis with pleurisy was experienced. This developed into bronchial pneumonia, and later the fluid of the pleurisy became purulqnt, which meant the condition known as empyema. This necessitated the operation for the removal of the fluid. Its presence had b.een a greatly added factor in the severity of the i llness—quite apart from the condition mentioned above. Fluid of this nature, unless; efficiently drained by an incision' or syphonage, is absorbed into the circulation, leading to ansther state known as septicaemia. This serious complication more than jeopardised) the King.’s chances of recovery. Far ii> s.uch a case even when the respiratory trouble is relieved the septic, infection is enough to prove fatal aflone. THREE: DISEASES. The King’s recovery, therefore, is all the more Wonderful wjhe.n oXie rea.lis.es that hf; had to contend with three diseases, any one of which* might have proved, fatal. Probably the turning, point took place just after the fluid was removed, as then the patient was no longer running the risk of incneased absorption of the poison, or. of further weakening the heart me uscle, which was hourly becoming enfeebled by the toxins in .the blood; The absence of toxins, there fore, gave the heart its much-nq eded 1 chance of recovery.. He has c,limbed it steadily ilaj' by day evgr. since. The heart muscle is bound to be weak for a cpmsidetrable time, a thq condition, of the King’s l Jieall th will have to be caxeflully watched an ,(1 maintained. A further attack of th a bronchial will aiso hayie to bt ' guarded against.