A CURIOUS STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 77, 9 July 1910, Page 9

A CURIOUS STORY

LATE KIXU EDWARD AND lll< PHYSICIAN'.

A remarkable account of King Kdj ward's illness in IUO2, when the .post- ' .ponement of the Coronation became necessary, has been published in the Kan- ' goon Times. It U well known that the late King made a gallant struggle, in spite of intense suffering from appendicitis, to .proceed with his engagements, and avoid disa/pointing the people who Mad assembled in London from all parts of the Empire for the Coronation eere- , monies. Sir Francis Lairing was his phy- | sician, and when the seriousness of his Royal patient's illness became apparent, he urged in the strongest terms that the advice of a surgeon should be procured. His Majesty replied that nothing could be done until after the Coronation, and he persisted in that attitude until the Monday before the date fixed for the event. In the morning Sir Francis pleaded for surgical advice, and met with a sharp refusal. The .King spent the afternoon at work, and then permitted his medical attendant to make another examination. Again he refused to see a surgeon, and when the point was pressed he curtly ordered Sir Francis to leave him. Twice the order was re peated, and each time the doctor renewed his request. "How dare vou stav here when I told you to go,"* said the King at last, with real anger in his voice. The doctor threw 'himself on his knees, and, taking the Sovereign's hand between his own, said: "For the love of I God, Sir, let me have surgical advice. M you refuse I resign at once, and you will be dead to-morrow." "Laking," said the King, drawing back in amazement. "What do you mean?" The reply was written* clearly on the set face of the medical man, and the King surrendered. "Very well, Laking, as you wish," he said quietly. A few moments later Sir Frederick Treves, who had ibeen waiting room, was making an examination, and his verdict was that an immediate operation was imperative. The surgeon did his work early the following morning. The story is sufficiently characteristic of the late King to be worthy of some credence.