PRESIDENT’S HEALTH

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27992, 12 June 1956, Page 13

PRESIDENT’S HEALTH

Hope For Rapid Recovery

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 pan.) WASHINGTON, June 10. 1 he text of the statement by Major-General Leonard Heaton, one of President Eisenhower’s surgeons, on the President’s operation is: The post-operative condition of the President is excellent and we have every expectation of a normal convalescence. We look for a rapid and complete recovery and feel that he will return to his good health in a short period of time.

“During the coming week, he should be able to sign official papers and carry on those functions of government which are necessary.

“We should like to establish here that his cardiac condition had no relationship to this present illness. We do not expect his heart in any way to affect his convalescence.

“You ladies and gentlemen know as well as I that there is no relationship between ileitis and any malignant disease. 1 want you to know that there was nothing suggesting a malignant disease found at the operation. Ileitis is a non-specific inflammatory disease of the terminal ileum of unknown origin. This disease is now , commonly found in yotinger agegroups. It is a fairly common disorder and is probably much more common than is diagnosed. “Dr. Berrill Crohn, after whom this disease is sometimes called, has stated, and we agree, that ‘it is not a dangerous disorder/

“Dr. Crohn has also stated that when necessary, and this occurs infrequently, the disease can be readily circumvented by surgery. During pre-opera-tive observation of the President here at Walter Reed Hospital, every opportunity was given lor this condition to correct itself, and it also gave us an opportunity, in the interim, to restore his electrolyte and fluid balance. “The third series of X-rays of the abdomen which were taken about 1 o'clock this morning demonstrated a continuing and unrelieved intestinal obstruction in spite of all corrective measures. Therefore surgery was decided upon. “At the operation, the pre-operative diagnosis of ileitis with obstruction was confirmed. No other complications were present. “The involved area of about 10 inches of the terminal ileum was bypassed. thus relieving the obstruction. The abdomen was closed without drainage. The President’s cardiac condition remained normal throughout the procedure and he left the operating table in excellent condition and has remained so, as previously reported.” First Painful Steps Mr Eisenhower today took the first painful steps since his emergency operation. He walked with assistance about 15 feet from his bed to a chair and back again. He also took some deep breathing exercises while seated in the chair. Asked if the President will still be willing and able to run for reelectidn, his press secretary. Mr James Hagerty, repeated the answer he gave after Mr Eisenhower's heart attack of last September 24. “I have just one thought in my mind,” said Mr Hagerty, “and that is to get the President of the United States out of the hospital.” Mr Hagerty said that Mr Eisenhower—who has a stomach drainage tube in his nostrils and consequently is not able to rest completely—took his first steps about 30 hours after undergoing surgery to correct an intestinal block that the doctors said could have caused his death. Describing these first steps Mr Haserty said: “He did not complain of the pain, but it would be unfair to say that he was feeling comfortable ... it wps not a comfortable experience.” Two medical attendants supported the President, one holding each elbow, as he took his first steps today. Specialists Return Home

Dr. Paul Dudley White, the Boston heart specialist, flew back home today, and Mr Hagerty said he saw no reason why Colonel Thomas Mattingly, the Walter Reed Hospital heart specialist, could not resume a holiday trip any time he wished.

Both were called in for precautipnary reasons, although the doctors said the President's intestinal difficulty did not involve the heart.

The President is expected to remain in the hospital for about two weeks, and then return to the White House or go to his farm near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to complete his convalescence.

The doctors have said he should be back on his feet, and in good golfing fettle, by mid-August. Mrs Eisenhower continued her vigil at the hospital today. Calm returned to the hospital’s emergency press centre today after the noisy tension of Friday night and yesterday morning. Eight television and newspaper cameras, radio microphones, and recording equipment stood comparatively unused and unattended. During the critical period early yesterday. White House press assistants took calls from Canada and as. far afield as Australia and New Zealand from radio stations seeking telephone interviews Dr. Milton Eisenhower said. “I have been delighted by my brother’s appearance and by his spirit as well as by the reports of the doctors, both following the operation last night and again today.” A temporary “White House” was being set up today at the United

States Army’s Walter Reed Hospital where President Eisenhower is making what was described as an “uneventful” recovery from the emergency abdominal surgery he underwent on Saturday. Plans for carrying on the functioning of the Presidency from the hospital were disclosed by Mr James Hagerty, the Press Secretary, after he issued the latest medical bulletin. The next bulletin is due at 9 a.m. (1 p.m. G.M.T.). The key Presidential advisers, including his Chief Assistant, Mr Sherman Adams, were setting up an office near the President’s suite in the hospital and were going to stay and work at the Walter Reed Hospital until the President is discharged in about two weeks. Mr Hagerty said all decisions normally made in the White House would be made from the makeshift hospital headquarters while the President was there. He emphasised there was absolutely no delegation of Presidential authority planned. First Executive Decision In fact, he said, the President made his first executive decision yesterday, less than 48 hours after the dramatic operation to by-pass a diseased section of his intestines. That was a decision to postpone a meeting set for June 12 of distinguished Americans who were coming to examine the possibilities of establishing better people-to-peopk contacts in the world, a matter in which, Mr Hagerty said, the President had a great personal interest. Mr Hagerty said he suggested to the President that the meeting be postponed until he could participate and the President replied: “Okay.” The changed atmosphere could be seen in the temporary Press room and White House staff headquarters at the hospital today now that Mr

Eisenhower is out of danger. Reporters and staff talked and joked in easy conversation —a contrast to the tension and anxiety that hung over this suite of rooms on the hospital’s ground floor on Friday night and Saturday, until the President’s physicians reported his operation h success. “Heart Withstood Strain” Dr. Paul Dudley White, the noted heart specialist who attended the President when he had his heart attack last September, said that Mr Eisenhower’s heart had withstood the strain of the surgery “beautifully and there is no indication the heart was affected by the operation.” Talking to reporters in North Carolina, where he addressed a medical school. Dr. White said he did not believe Mr. Eisenhower’s intestinal trouble technically ileitis need change the President’s plans to stand for a second term. The “New York Times” reported a similar view by a “high Administration political figure,” who said he doubted whether the President’s second illness “would be seriously adverse to Republican election chances.” This man conceded that the President's operation would cost some votes, “but not to any alarming degree.” Speculation About Candidacy

But the operation seems certain to touch off a month or more of renewed speculation about Mr Eisenhower's candidacy. Several Democrats said today they hoped he would stick by his decision on February 29 to seek a second term, although most of them concede privately they think their chances of recapturing the White House would be better against another Republican candidate.

Mr Averell Harriman, the Governor of New York, who announced on Saturday his active candidacy for the Democratic Presidential nomination, said he sincerely hoped the doctors were correct in saying Mr Eisenhower could run again.

Appearing on a television programme. Mr Harriman said he did not think the operation would have any influence on the campaign.

Mr Adlai Stevenson, also seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination, said in Chicago he hoped Mr Eisenhower recovers speedily. Mr Stevenson said that in campaigning he would not stress Mr Eisenhower’s health, but onlv his conduct of office. He said: “Of course, his health will have something to do with the conduct of the office.”

Opponent for Gaitskell. —A “Tobruk Rat.” Mr Bert Ramelson, aged 46. has been chosen by the Communist Party to fight Mr Hugh Gaitskell. leader of the Labour Party, at the next election. Mr Gaitskell is member for South Leeds.—London. June 10. Invitation to Nehru.— The Greek Government has extended an open invitation to the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) to pay an official visit to Greece. "