THE KING'S STRUGGLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1928, Page 5

THE KING'S STRUGGLE

LONDON, December 8. A bulletin at 11.30 states that the King had some hours’ sleep. His temperature is still raised on account of local lung condition. His general condition is the same. Sir F. S. Hewett and Lord Dawson, in a later message, in view of the inconclusive character of the bulletin, say that the King’s condition cannot be regarded as entirely satisfactory. Although a maintenance of his general condition at a steady level is an important feature, the persistence of lung trouble is causing the physicians a certain amount of worry. There is an absence of any definite signs of improvement, and in that respect it is less reassuring than could be desired. Reference to the temperature still being raised does not mean that it has become higher, but is still subject to fluctuations, and remains above normal. Sir F. S. Hewett, Lord Dawson, and Drs Buzzard, Rolleston and Hodgson held a consultation at the Palace in the afternoon. The technical character of to-night’s bulletin created a good deal of mystification even in Palace circles. It is explained, however, that the doctors to-dav searched by means of a needle and X-ray, for pleural effusion and found little. This means, that had there been pleural effusion in large quantities, certain special steps would be taken forthwith, which might, have the effect of shortening the duration of the trouble. As this is not necessary, ordinary passive treatment is resumed. It is important to note that the patient’s strength is being well maintained. The fact that he had an unrestful day is accountable by the examinations in the morning and evening. His Majesty was more restful at ten o’clock to-night. The needle exploration was carried out by Lord Dawson, and Sir F. S. Hewett. X-RAY INVESTIGATIONS. LONDON, December 8. The “Daily Express’s” medical authority states that the fact that there was a second X-ray is extremely suggestive that there is suspicion in the mind of the King’s doctors, of the possibility of an abscess formation, but it is most difficult to obtain a satisfactory exposure, when a patient is seriously ill. The Queen and Princess had a drive for an hour.| They chatted animatedly as they drove through the gates, and smiled and bowed at the crowd. According to present arrangements, the Queen will unveil the Merchant Navy War Memorial, on Tower Hill, on Wednesday. The Duchess’s various public appearances to-day were a welcome sign that there was a more hopeful feeling at the Palace. To-night she visited Christ Hospital, in connection with the birthday festival of Toe H. The Duke-of York for the third ’night in succession dined with the Queen at the Palace, and left at 10.30. The Railway Company operating the Flying Scotsman, has arranged for copies of the morning bulletin issued after its departure from London, to be telegraphed to York, where travellers are informed. Bulletins by wireless are received by all the night transChannel steamers. The King’s private Secretary, replying to-night to a message from Norfolk Yeomanry Old Comrades, stated: “His Majesty’s symptoms are improving, and the situation is less anxious.” COMMENT ON ILLNESS. LONDON, December 8. Close on the third week, of His Majesty’s illness finds anxiety on y slightly relieved. It is generally realised that a week ago the worst dangers had drawn very near. Though the later development was somewhat more hopeful, it did not remove 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 will be a crisis, after a period of convalenscence, is shown by well-informed articles published in this week’s medical journals to be an illusion. The disease conforms to a type in which there is not a single crisis, but a protracted succession of ups and downs. The nation jnust wait patiently amid the loyal hopes and prayers, the outcome of which in the last resort no human skill can wholly determine. . An eminent authority says that in this particular illness it is recognised that the crisis once over the characteristic is seldom present, but the peiiod of infection is lengthened. His Majesty’s illness is of unusual severity, because infection reached the blood stream, meaning general infection of the whole body. Until recent years fi doctor was of little value. It was a matter of nursing. “It could be safely said that if this unusually '.severe attack had occurred 60. years tigo, it would have been fatal within a few days. In these days, chemicals were injected for killing off the. germ which is responsible for infection of the blood stream, thus increasing the number of white cells to fight it.’ The “Daily Chronicle’s” medical expert says that all the doctors recognise that relatives and friends of the patient generally desire an intelligible label to be affixed to any serious illness, but when the symptoms obstinately refuse to conform to any classification of generally understood types, curiosity cannot be satisfied. This is the dilemma with which the physicians are faced. They are suddenly confronted with a combination of symptoms which are serious but unsettled, although in themselves easily recognised. They are therefore obliged to 'treat the symptoms. 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 pre'sent question is the maintenance of the patient’s strength, upon which the bulletins continue to be optimistic. Whenever a bulletin says “general

OMINOUS BULLETINS QUESTION OF CONSTITUTION (Australian Press Assooiation.) • (By Cable—Press Assn.— Copyright.)

condition unchanged,” the people may flook forward with considerable confidence to a favourable issue. “SEVERAL HOURS’ SLEEP. ” LONDON, December 9. A bulletin issued at 11.45 stated: The King has had several hours’ sleep. The prolongation of the fever is having the inevitable effect of producing a certain measure of exhaustion. His pulse however, remains steady.—Hewett; Dawson. CONDITION UNCHANGED. LONDON, December 9. Despite the morning bulletin very less satisfactory than hoped, the Central News has the highest authority for stating that actually his Majesty’s condition remains comparatively unchanged. The reference to the exhaustion caused some anxiety, but it is stated it is no more than the doctor expected, in view of the fact that the long tedious illness reduced the King’s recuperative power. Sir S. Hewitt and Lord Dawson were in consultation for 105 minutes before they issued the bulletin, the nature of which created anxious feeling among the thousands waiting at the palace.

THE WORST OVER? GRATIFYING DEVELOPMENTS. (Received December 10, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 8. More information on the King’s condition was given to-day than any day since November 28. The statement will be read Empire-wide with a feeling of deep thankfulness. It confirms all the reports cabled, stressing the seriousness of the illness and the gravity of the condition. In fact, it is now stated publicly, on the highest authority that the King’s life has been more than once in danger, and fully justified all the warnings given since the illness began. These were necessarily 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 a week five doctors held a consultation at the Palace, where they remained ninety minutes is taken to indicate that they desired to discuss the future line of treatment of the stubborn persistence of the infected area of the lung. Nowhere is there a suggestion of renewed anxiety. Contrariwise, the “Evening Standard’s” well-informed diarist says that the King’s condition is no worse. He is not without authority in.saying the doctors are fairly satisfied. A' specialist, writing for the “Standard” says: The bulletins of the last few days have been much mere favourable than would have been expected, considering how seriously ill the King was a week ago, with heart 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 the fresh threat of empyima, or collection of matter in the pleural cavity. On the other hand, the temperature shows that the danger of such a development is by no means past. Other medical opinions quoted by the “Central News” connect the rise in temperature with the absorption of toxins, from the congested areas of the lung. The “Sunday Express’s” medical correspondent emphasises the hopefulness of the sign that no mention has been made of the collection of fluid. There was again a large crowd outside the Palace to read the 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 prepared, are always sent first to the Queen. Copies are promptly telegraphed to the King’s relatives in Britain and abroad, including the Duke of Connaught at Nice. Five doctors, after the conference, left the Palace at 3.45. All returned at seven o’clock, and remained until an hour after the issue of the evening bulletin. This is the first time they have thus stayed on. Sir S. Hewett again spent the night at the Palace.

EXHAUSTION UNLESSENED. (Received December 10, 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 9. The bulletin issued at 5.30 p.m. states: — The King passed a quiet day, but there is no diminution in the exhaustion mentioned in the morning bulletin. His pulse remains steady. “NOT A HOPEFUL SIGN.” (Recd. Dec. 10, 2 p.m.) LONDON, December 9An eminent physician, in a statement to the “Daily Express,” said: — “The mention of no diminution in exhaustion is not a hopeful sign, but very much the opposite- The whole question now is the ability of the constitution, and the system generally to recover. If at this stage the King is beginning to become exhausted and fever is continuing, it makes the outlook very serious indeed.” A semi-official statement says: “Tonight’s bulletin is not regarded as reassuring. The reference to th<? pulse for the first time to-day is not altogether a good sign. It seems to indicate that while doctors are able to report that t'he pulse remains steady, they are watching carefully for possible future development. Sir S. Hewett and Lord Dawson saw His Majesty for half-an-hour this afternoon, and had a longer visit in the evening. The bacteriologist, Dr Whiteby, was in conference with them in the evening, but did not see the King. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the Queen, for the first time for many days, lunched away from the Palace, going to the Duke of York’s home,

along with Princess Mary and. Lord Lascelles. PRINCE OF WALES. LONDON, December 8. The Prince of Wales arrived at Suez to-night. The Enterprise covered the 1,500 miles from Aden in approximately fifty-one hours, thus her total estimated steaming time from Dares Salaam to Suez was 3,500 miles in 124 hoursLord Lloyd met and accompanied him in a special train to Caii'O. He leaves for Port Said on Saturday, where he will embark on the Enterprise, which is scheduled to arrive at Brindisi on Monday morning, though possibly Sunday night ,in which case it is arranged for a special to leave immediately. M. Doumergue has instructed the police to depute a personal bodyguard on board the train at the Swiss border.

Representatives of the British and Italian Governments, and the King of Italy, and Mussolini, will meet the Prince of Wales at Brindisi, but only by their presence, and not by ceremonial, will they symbolise God speed to the Prince and wishes for the King’s recovery. Railway engineers have been placed at important junctions to ensure that the train will not be delayed, and everything is done to render a safe and quick passage. The actual route will be by the Milan St. Gothard tunnel,’Basle, Belfort, and Chaumont Chalons, avoiding Paris- He will touch Amiens, and then Boulogne. Sir Godfrey Thomas, Secretary to the Prince of Wales, left London for Brindisi with a complete kit of warm clothing. DAY AT CAIRO. (Reed. December 10, 11 a.m.) LONDON, December 9. There is the keenest interest in the Prince of Wales’s journey. The whole country will be. relieved when he reaches London. He managed to secure a little exercise at Cairo, where he played an energetic game of squash racquets. .He made necessary purchases of clothing, and visited the famous bazaar and bought three Bokhara carpets. He tried to find an ancient Arab chest, but this was not obtainable. Later he went to the Citadel, whence, he had a magnificent view, and also visited King Fuad, thence to the station, where he entrained for Port Said, where he rejoined the Enterprise and sailed at. 11.20 in the evening. ~ He was expected at Brindisi within 24 hours and at London on Wednesday morning. It is reported from Brindisi that crowds are already gathering, although the authorities have been warned from Rome that the Prince must not be interrupted by demonstrations. An Italian aeroplane has arrived and will be placed at the Prince’s disposal. THE INVALID’S PETS. (Recd. Dec. 10, 11 a.m.) LONDON, December 9. The “News of the World” says that the King was under an anaesthetic at 2.12, when an examination was made. It was the action of the anaesthetic which led to the necessity of giving oxygen in order to support the heart. “Gossipier” in the same journal says: The King is exhibiting his usual sense of humour, and insists on hearing the wireless bulletin in his bedroom and makes caustic remarks thereon. He has seen some of his 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 Sealyham terrier, Jobe, was much more sensible and quiet, therefore he has been more frequently admitted.