THE EARLIER REPORTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 50, 10 December 1928, Page 5

THE EARLIER REPORTS

LESS REASSURING REPORT. NO SIGN OFJMPROVEMENT. LONDON, December 8. A bulletin issued at 11.30 a.m. stated: The King had some hours of sleep. His temperature is still raised on account of the local condition of the lung. His general condition is the same. The bulletin was aligned by Sir Stanlev Hewett and Lord Dawson. In view of the inconclusive character of the bulletin, medical experts say that the condition cannot be recarded as entirely satisfactory. Inough the maintenance of his general condition at a steady level is an important feature, the persistence of the lung trouble is causing physicians a certain amount of worry. The absence of any definite signs if improvement in that respect is regarded at the Palace as less reassuring than could be desired The reference to the temperature still being: raised does' not mean that it has become higher, but that it is still subSect to fluctuations and remains above n °Sir Stanley Hewett, Lord Dawson, Sir B. Farquhar Buzzard, Sir Humphrey Rolleston, and Dr Hodgson held It consultation at the Palace in the afternoon.

FIGHTING THE DISEASE. STRENGTH WELL MALVTAINED. LONDON, December 7. The technical character of to-night s bulletin has created a good, deal or mystification even in Palace circles it. is explained, however, that the doctors to-day searched by means of a needle X-ray for pleural effusion, but found little, which means that had there been a pleural effusion large quantities ■would have been found. Special steps could be taken forthwith which might have the effect of shortening the duration of the trouble. As this was not necessary, the ordinary passive treatment has been resumed. An important wote is that the King's strength is being well maintained. The fact that he did not have a restful day is accountable bv the examinations in the morning and evening. His Majesty was more restful at 10 o'clock io-night. The need]* exploration was carried

out by Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley ' Hewett. , , . , Sir William Hodgson, who conducted the radiograph examination, returned to Buckingham Palace in the evening and had a consultation with .Lord Dawson and Sir Stanley Hewett. At the same time a taxi arrived bearing the proofs of the radiograph. . An eminent authority says that the particular illness has a recognised crisis and was once characteristic, but is now seldom present, although the period of infection is lengthened. His Majesty's illness is of unusual severity, because the infection has reached the blood stream, meaning a general infection of the whole body. Until recent years .t doctor was of little value. It was a matter of nursing. It could be safely said that if this unusually sever© attack had occurred W years ago it would have been fatal within a few days. In this case chemicals were injected, killing off the germ which was responsible for the infection of the blood stream, and thus increasing the number of white cells to fight Sir Stanley Hewett returned to the Palace, and will remain for the night. The King's private secretary, replying to-night to a message from the Norfolk Yeomanry old comrades, stated: "His Majesty's symptoms are improving and the situation is less anxious." , . This morning's bulletin, after stating that the King had had some restful sleep and that his general strength was maintained, added that a further investigation of the right side of the chest would be undertaken during the It was subsequently announced that an X-ray examination of the patient had been carried out, this being the second examination of the kind. The first was conducted by Dr. Graham Hodgson, of King's College Hosmtal, and was undertaken in the first stages of the illness. Dr. Hodgson again carried out the work to-day. LONG ILLNESS EXPECTED. LONDON, December 8. The close of the third week of his Majesty's illness finds.- anxiety only slightlv relieved. It was generally realised a week ago that the worst dangers had drawn y fc ry near indeed. Though the later developments were somewhat more hopeful, they did not remove the grounds for constant and immediate anxiety. ~No quick, decisive improvement can be expected in a case of this nature. It is a slow illness. The idea that there wilPbe a crisis, after which he will take the oath of convalescence, is shown by "well-informed articles published in this week's medical journals to lie an illusion. The disease eonforms to a type in which there is not a single crisis but a protracted succession of ups and. downs. The nation must wait patiently amid loyal hopes and prayers, the outcome of which, in the last resort, no human skill can wholly determine. The eminent doctors in attendance are wielding, on his Majesty s behalf, the latest and most varied resources of medical science. It is probably true that had the same illness attacked anyone a decade ago the medical resources of that day would not have saved him.—Australian Press Association.

DOCTORS FAIRLY SATISFIED. A NOTE OF HOPEFULNESS. LONDON, December 8. More information on the King's condition was given to-day than on any day since November 28. The statement will be read throughout the Empire with feelings of thankfulness it confirms all the reports" that have been cabled stressing the seriousness ol the illness and the gravity of his Majesty s condition; in fact, it is now stated publicly, on the highest authority, that the Kind's life has been more than once in danger, and fully justified all the warnings given since the illness began These necessarily were couched in cautious language, because his Majesty -read his own morning paper as long as possible, and even when unable to do so he displayed interest in the bulletins. Those accustomed to the right use of words, however, had no difficulty in detecting the anxiety underlying the published statements of the past three weeks. The fact that for the second time in the week five doctors held a consultation at the Palace, where they remained for 90 minutes, is taken to indicate that they desired to discuss the future lines of treatment of the stubborn persistence of the infected area of the lung. Nowhere is there a suggestion ol renewed anxiety. On the contrary, the "Evening Standard's" well-informed diarist says that the King's condition is no worse. He is not without authority in saying that 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 how seriously ill the King was a week ago with his heart's weakness, of which .there has been no mention recently. Apparently it is not causing so much trouble, which means that the patient has a better chance of fighting a _ fresh threat of empyema or a collection or matter in the pleural cavity. On the other hand, his - temperature shows that the danger of such a development is by no means past." Other medical opinion, as quoted by the Central News Agency, connects the rise in temperature with the absorption of toxins from the congested the lung. The "Sunday Express's" medical correspondent emphasises the hopefulness of the sign that no mention has been made of a collection of fluid. There was again a Jarge crowd outside the Palace to read the bulletin, despite the bitterly cold weather and 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 3.30. It is learned that the bulletins, directly they are -repared, are always sent first to the Queen. Copies are promptly telegraphed to the Kings relatives in Britain and abroad, including the Duke of Connaueht at Nice—Australian Press Association.

KING LISTENS TO BULLETSNS. LONDON, December 0. The "News of the World" says that the King was under an anaesthetic on December 2, when an examination was made It was the action of the anaesthetic which led to the necessity of giving him oxygon in order to support the hearf.

"Gossiper," in the same journal, says the King is exhibiting his usual sense of humour and insists on hearing the wireless bulletin in his bedroom, making caustic remarks thereon. His Majesty has seen some personal pets, including the 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 her favourite remark, "How do, captain!" that she had to be removed. The King's bealyham terrier, Jobe, was much more sensible and quiet, and therefore he has been more frequently admitted.—Australian/Press Association.

SYMPTOMS ARE UNSETTLED. LONDON, December 8. The "Daily Chronicle's" medical expert says that all the doctors recognise that the relatives and friends of a patient generally desire an intelligible label affixed to any serious illness. When its symptoms obstinately refuse to conform.to any classification of generally understood types, this curiosity cannot be satisfied. . "This is the dilemma with which the King's physicians are faced," he says. "They are suddenly confronted with a combination of symptoms which are serious but unsettled, although in themselves easilv recognised. Ihey are therefore obliged to treat symptoms onlv. 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 of the patient s strength, upon which the bulletins continue to be optimistic. Whenever the bulletin says the general condition is unchanged, people may look forward with considerable confidence to a favourable issue."—Australian Press Association. DOCTORS' FREQUENT VISITS.

LONDON, December 8. The five doctors, after a conference, left the Palace at 3.45 p.m. All returned at 7 o'clock, and remained until an hour after the issue of the evening bulletin. This is the first time that they have thus stayed on. Sir Stanley Hewett again spent the night at the Palace.—Australian Press Association.