THE KING’S ILLNESS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 83, 2 January 1929, Page 9

THE KING’S ILLNESS

LITTLE CHANGE IN CONDITION LOCAL INFECTION DIMINISHING EXHAUSTION A DIFFICULT PROBLEM The latest bulletins report that the King’s condition is pracMically unchanged. The local infection is diminishing, biiU the exhaustion still presents a difficult problem. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) London, December 30. Lord Dawson, Sir Stanley Hewett, and Sir Hugh Rigby conferred for eighty minutes at the Palace this morning. There was no bulletin, but the Palace officials state that the King’s condition is unchanged. The following bulletin was issued at 8.30 p.m. to-day: “The King has had a quiet day. There is no change to report in His Majesty’s condition. (Signed) Stanley Hewett, Hugh Rigbj’, Dawson of Penn.” MONDAY’S BULLETINS GENERAL CONDITION MAINTAINED (Australian Press Assn. —United. Service.) (Rec. January 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 31. A bulletin issued at 8.30 to-night says: “His Majesty has had a good day and this morning’s conditions are unchanged. A bacteriological examination shows that the extent and potency of the local infection is diminishing.” The bulletin is signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Dr. Whitby, Sir Hugh Rigby, and Lord Dawson. An earlier bulletin, issued at midday', said: “The King passed a somewhat restless, night. His general condition is maintained, although, as previ ously noted and stated, the exhaustion still presents a difficult problem. There is a little more readiness to take nourishment. The local condition is progressing.” This bulletin was signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir . Hugh Rigby, Sir Farquhar Buzzard, and Lord Dawson. The King’s Daily Diet. The King’s daily diet consists of two sipped raw eggs, supplemented with a little milk and fruit juice, in addition to meat juice extracts administered with medicine. Five doctors consulted for two and a half hours before the issue of the mid-day bulletin, and carried out a further general review. It is understood that during the preceding thirty-six hours the King’s progress has been slightly checked, but there has not been an actual set-back. The position is rather that progress has been interrupted than that any ground has been lost.. The chief point in the bulletin is the reference to exhaustion. Anxiety must persist while the weakness continues. In the present serious state the doctors are concentrating all attention on this problem. Other matters have been going on quite satisfactorily. A good feature Is the more readiness to take nourishment. On this point hopes are being built. The Prince of Wales visited the Palace this morning. PROGRESS HARDLY MEASURABLE (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. January 1, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 31. Medical comments.on to-day’s bulletin emphasise that the nature of the illness is such that the. progress is hardly susceptible of daily measurement. A more reliable test is a comparison over a week. It must still be stressed that the central fact is that the King’s condition remains one of great weakness. ORIGINAL DISEASE CONQUERED EXTREME WEAKNESS LEFT TO BE DEALT WITH (Rec. January 1, 5.5 p.m.) ■ i London, December-31. The present position-of the King as revealed by to-night’s bulletin may be summed up by stating that the original disease has been practically conquered, and the doctors now are left to deal with the grave damage to . the constitution in the form of extreme weakness. This at the moment is causing considerable anxiety, the physicians concentrating on the difficult problem of increasing the King’s strength. All possible measures known to medical science are, being taken to attain this end. It is stated authoritatively that at this stage of the illness it is possible that the King will not show signs of progress during periods of twelve hours. Without being definitely a bad sign, progress, as has so often been stressed, must be so slow and slight that it is impossible at times to detect any change during a short interval. While His Majesty maintains his present condition it means naturally' that there is no setback. On the contrary, however; it is impossible for the. present. state of affairs to continue indefinitely. The doctors are hoping that the King may progress slowly day by day, with perhaps an occasional unavoidable cheek, which may be surmounted, such as ou Sunday. Anxiety at the Palace continues.' and it will be several days before it can sensibly diminish. Medical commentators' also take the view that the original disease has been surmounted, but admit that the resultant weakness is a most difficult problem. However, it is being fought by every means known to science; moreover, every effort is being made to induce His Majesty to take-nourish-ment, though often with most-disap-pointing results. Although-the good day mentioned to-night has not yet produced appreciable results, there are hopes of improvement if he has a restful night.. It is noteworthy that eight doctors were in attendance at the Palace today. The Prince of Wales and the Duke and Dueii'sss of York dined with the Queen. Sir-. Stanley Hewett stayed on, but the otlieTS*- after the bulletin was issued. Rays'YfSJ® been reapplied. \ There is no announcement ‘(T 3 *' ' n r< ?" gard to the postponed New ■ "Year’s honours ' ‘