LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 68, 31 December 1928, Page 5

LAST NIGHT'S NEWS.

STILL IN GREAT DANGER. IMPROVEMENT WILL BE SLOW. | LONDON, December 29. \A bulletin issued at 8.15 p.m. states: The King had a quiet day. .The slow improvement noted this morning continues. No further, bulletin will be issued till Sunday evening. The bulletin was signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir Hugh Rigby and Lord Dawson. ... •, . The morning's bulletin, issued' at 11.30 a.m., stated: The King had a quiet night, there being a very slight change , for the better. The sixth week-end of the King's illness finds the Royal patient still in -considerable danger, although the threat is not so imminent now as earlier in the month. Recent bulletins have been carrying a warning that it is premature yet for complacency. The doctors are now confronted with two problems, the local condition of ike right lung, which appears a definite improvement, and second, the general 6tate of the system, which dearly has not improved: Although the improvement is of th.e greatest importance, the return to the issuing of bulletins twice daily showed what the doctors thought of Thursday's setback, which was described in some quarters ijs a relapse. It is clear that the King's system has been strained to the uttermost by the illness, which was botE slow and exceptionally severe. He could only, in any case, rally by degrees, while at this time of the year weather factors are making ,hie recovery more difficult. —Australian Press Association.

POWERFUL ANTISEPTIC. VALUE OF DAKIN SOLUTION. LONDON. December 29. Dakin's solution will be employed 1 for treating the King's lung. Accprding to the "Daily Mail" it is one of the most powerful antiseptics known to science, and was discovered as a result of joint researches by Dr. Da kin (a British investigator) and Dr. Alexis Carrel (a Frenchman). It is made from chloride of lime and anhydrous sodium and bicarbonate. Chlorinated lime is first digested in water and then filtered, when the other ingredients are similarly treated. Tlie solutions are then mixed together. Both Dr. Dakin and Dr. Carrel worked! with the Allied armies in France

during the war, when the "CarrelDakin" solution literally saved millions of soldiers' lives! There is a new method of preparation since the antiseptic was introduced, but the original principle remains unchanged. Dr. Dakin graduated at the London Hospital.—Australian Press Association, United Service.

SLIGHTLY LESS ANXIETY. WILD RUMOURS CONTRADICTED. LONDON, December 29. The announcement of the fourth favourable bulletin in succession caiised a general feeling of satisfaction, which was heightened by an authoritative statement that, instead of anxiety being increased since last Thursday, the reverse is the case. There is slightly less anxiety. At the Palace there is a renewed air of hopefulness. The Press generally has hitherto dealt restrainedly with his Majesty s illness, but two journals this morning gave prominence to statements which led to the unusual course of contradictions being broadcast throughout the country, on Palace authority, by the British Broadcasting Cbmany. The announcement was made after a recital of the evening bulletin. None of these statements was transmitted by the Australian and New Zealand Press Association, whose sources of information have proved to be most reliable and in the closest touch with the Palace. The announcer declared that the question of blood transfusion, mention oi which in a morning paper caused hundreds to rush to offer blood, had not been considered. On the contrary, the measures decided upon for increasing the King's general strength related, to a new course of- medicine. A further report that the King had been unconscious for long periods was very misleading at this stage of the illness. It is learned that Sir Stanley Hewett and Dr. Woods to-night again administered the ray therapy treatment. Dr. Hodgson, the radiologist, also Visited the Palace. No significance is,attached to the latter's visit. Lord Dawson departed at 9 o'clock, earlier than usual. The Duke and Duchess of York returned from Northamptonshire and dined with the Queen. The Prince of Wales, who was expected back in. London after a day's hunting, decided not to return but to spend the week-end in the country. Thus the position is distinctly more hopeful, though it is stressed that anxiety must inevitably continue while his Majesty's condition remains one of extreme weakness. It is learned from the Palace that the King is having a quiet night, with some sleep. His condition generally is unchanged.—Australian Press Association.