KING STILL IMPROVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 1

KING STILL IMPROVES

A Good Day Yesterday HOME SECRETARY DEPARTS Feels That Worst is Over {United 1 ’.A.. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and K.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 11,5 a.m. LONDON. Wednesday. A BULLETIN which was issued at 8.15 p.m. states: “The r\. King passed a good day. There is a slight improvement in his Majesty’s condition.” The morning bulletin read: “In spite of the fact that his Majesty passed a restless night, his condition remains unchanged from that of last evening.’’

The Home Secretary, Sir William, Jovnson-Hicks, has left London for a ; j holiday at Mentone, His departure : is significant, because he has been in | closest touch with the Palace throughj out the King’s illness. IJe states: “I had a consultation i with the doctors before I decided that it was safe to go. I feel that the worst of the illness is over, and there is every reason to hope that a slow, gradual improvement will take place.” Lord Dawson of Penn did not visit the Palace in the afternoon, and no statement as to his Majesty’s condition was issued. Experts, interviewed regarding the calcium treatment, say that there is increasing evidence that in certain ■weak states of health there is a reduction in the calcium content of the blood. The deficiency can be made good by administering a soluble salt through the mouth; but that is a slow method of getting calcium into the! blood stream. It is usually injected in a vein by means of a hyopermic ■ syringe. Thus the blood’s calcium content is raised to normal. Unusually severe injections are made at intervals of a day or two. Doubtless calcium was administered to the King intravenously, which is quite a simple operation, and must not be regarded as a last-resort move. There is no reference in any medical text book to the matter. The King’s doctors probably solved the method on their own. MORE SATISFACTORY To-day’s news of the King, in conjunction with the Home Secretary’s statement, is regarded as much more satisfactory. It appears to indicate that the King is continuing the gradual hoped-for progress, also that the small check resulting from his restlessness last night had not any adverse effect. Indeed, there is a noticeably better atmosphere in Palace circles; but ; nevertheless it is again emphasised !

that optimism must still be restrained. A certain degree of anxiety still continues. The ray experts. Dr. Howitt and Dr. Woods, were not at the Palace tonight. For the second successive day the rays were not applied. The Prince of AVales, the Duke and Duchess of York and Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles dined with the Queen. Both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester had been hunting.

“LIFTING CLOUDS” QUEEN SENDS MESSAGE TO CITIZENS LONDON’S SYMPATHY British Official Wireless. Reed. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Wed. The following message has been addressed by the Queen to the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Kynaston Studd: “I have received the message which on New Year’s Day the Lord Mayor never fails to address to the King. This message, with its expression of loyalty, devotion and sympathy from the citizens of London, comes to me at a time of great anxiety. The King's illness must take its long and arduous course, but, please God, I may look forward to lifting clouds and a happy realisation of the nation's faith and hope. “The love and affection extended to me and my children throughout these dark days have indeed been a support to me and to those near and dear to me, and when health and strength shall be, as we hope, vouchsafed agaiD to the King it will be a source of happiness to him to know that in his suffering he was ever in the thoughts of the citizens of London. “I pray you to convey.to one and all my heartfelt thanks.”